South Sudan’s army said northern warplanes bombed its territory on Monday, after fighting in the border state of Southern Kordofan spread across the ill-defined north-south border. The northern army has been battling southern-aligned troops in Southern Kordofan, the north’s main oil state, since June 5. Humanitarian organisations fear a mounting death toll, although few casualties have been confirmed so far. South Sudan is due to become independent on July 9.
Analysts see Southern Kordofan as a flashpoint in the build-up to the split because it is home to thousands of fighters who sided against Khartoum during the last civil war. The southern army accused the northern military of bombing its territory in Unity state on Friday and again on Monday.
“There has been another bombing of the south. It was this morning, at the same location (as Friday), at Jau in Unity state. It was more Antonovs from Khartoum,” southern military spokesman Philip Aguer told Reuters.
“We are in defensive positions and continue to monitor what they are doing.” A spokesman for the northern military was not immediately available to comment.