SPLA accuses government of resuming bombardments

The rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) has accused the government of bombing areas in east and south Sudan and reneging on its promise not to attack villages in rebel-held zones. In a statement, SPLM spokesman Samson Kwaje claimed a woman and a child were killed in a government bombing raid on the village of Girgir in eastern Sudan on 29 April. The statement also said villages south of Malakal town, as well as Tali and Lanya in Equatoria region, have also come under government bombardment recently. “The international community should therefore not be deceived by the NIF [National Islamic Front] that they are no longer bombing the civilian targets in the NDA [opposition National Democratic Alliance] administered areas,” the statement said. The Sudanese government last month announced a halt to air strikes on rebel areas except in self-defence and in “active military operations areas”.