Airstrike on MSF Hospital in South Sudan

At least seven people were killed and 20 others injured after an aerial bombardment struck a hospital operated by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in northern South Sudan on Saturday, the medical charity confirmed. The attack destroyed vital medical supplies and left thousands without access to lifesaving care.

The facility, located in the remote town of Old Fangak—approximately 475 kilometers north of the capital, Juba—was hit in the early hours of the morning. MSF stated that its pharmacy and all medical stocks were obliterated in the strike.

"Unacceptable Violation of Humanitarian Law"

"This was the only functional hospital in the area, serving over 40,000 people," MSF said in a statement posted on X. Mamman Mustapha, the organization’s head of mission in Sudan, condemned the attack as "a clear violation of international humanitarian law" and emphasized that medical facilities must never be targeted.

Fangak County official Biel Boutros Biel alleged in a recorded statement that the assault was carried out by a drone and a plane belonging to the South Sudanese government. However, the claim could not be independently verified, and South Sudan’s military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Local authorities told The Associated Press that a 9-month-old child was among the dead, with at least 25 others wounded. Eyewitnesses reported additional strikes near the Old Fangak market later in the day, triggering panic and further displacement.

Escalating Conflict Threatens Fragile Peace

The bombing marks the latest escalation in a broader government offensive against opposition forces. Since March, South Sudanese troops—backed by Ugandan forces—have conducted multiple airstrikes in neighboring Upper Nile State.

Old Fangak lies in an ethnically Nuer region historically aligned with opposition leader Riek Machar, South Sudan’s first vice president, who is currently under house arrest on allegations of subversion. The attack comes amid heightened tensions following the collapse of a power-sharing agreement between Machar and President Salva Kiir, raising fears of a return to full-scale civil war.

MSF, which provides critical healthcare in conflict zones worldwide, called for an immediate investigation into the bombing and urged all parties to respect the protection of medical facilities under international law.