Satellite Sentinel Project • www.satsentinel.org | Situation Report: Evidence of an Airstrike in South Sudan

The Satellite Sentinel Project has secured independent confirmation of theaerial bombardment of a Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) militaryinstallation in Jau town in South Sudan’s Unity State (Figure 1). The SouthSudanese army’s continued occupation of Jau,1 which is located within theSafe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ) straddling the two countries’contested border, is a violation of the two countries’ recent recommitment to abide by security arrangements.2 Jau has been the subject of territorial dispute and the site of previous clashes between the two countries’ armed forces in December 2011 and February 2012.3 Notwithstanding South Sudan’s current non-compliance with its agreement to demilitarize its border areas, the Sudanese government’s aerial bombardment of Jau, now confirmed by the Satellite Sentinel Project, is an illegal use of force under international law.4

By targeting a historic flash point for violence at a sensitive moment, theattack has heightened bilateral tensions between the two Sudans.

Evidence of an Airstrike in South Sudan

Situation Report: Evidence of an Airstrike in South Sudan

September 10, 2013

Evidence of an Airstrike in South Sudan

satsentinel.org

Satellite Sentinel Project

1.The Satellite Sentinel Project has previous reported on the South Sudanese government’s illegal presence at Jau in “Troops in the Demilitarized Zone” available at http://www.enoughproject.org/files/Troops-in-the-Demilitarized-Zone.pdf.2. Both presidents pledged to abide by the cooperation agreements during a summit on September 3, 2013. See“Bashir, Kiir Pledge to Open New Page in Sudan Ties, Keep Oil Running,” Reuters, September 3, 2013, available at http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/09/03/world/africa/03reuters-sudan-south.html?_r=0.3. For accounts of previous clashes over Jau in December 2011 and February 2012 see “South Sudan Army in Full Control of Jau after Heavy Fighting with SAF - Official,” Sudan Tribune, February 27, 2012, available at http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article41728; “South Sudan Demands Sudan Forces ‘Withdraw from Jau,’” BBC News, December 7, 2011, available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-16077689; Dhieu Williams, “South Sudan: SAF Bombs Jau in South Sudan, Violates Agreement,” The Citizen (Juba), via allAfrica.com, February 14, 2012, available at http://allafrica.com/sto-ries/201202140399.html.4. Charter of the United Nations, Article 2[4]; Constitutive Act of African Union, Article 4[f].5. “Sudan Bombs S. Sudan Buffer Zone Position, Kills 2,” Agence France-Presse, September 8, 2013, available at http://news.yahoo.com/sudan-bombs-sudan-buffer-zone-position-kills-2-171037242.htm. Bonifacio Taban Kuich, “SAF Bomb Attack in Unity State Leaves Two Dead, Six Injured.” Sudan Tribune, September 8, 2013. available at http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article47972.

Digital Globe panchromatic imagery of the fortified village of Jau fromSeptember 8, 2013 shows a crater, approximately 7 meters in diameter,consistent with aerial bombardment (Figure 2). According to DigitalGlobeAnalytics, at least two tent structures were destroyed by the bomb blast. At least one more bomb crater was noted north of the village (Figure 3).Neither crater is visible in July 12, 2013 imagery of the same area. Sources on the ground corroborate reports that a Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) jet dropped a bomb in Jau on September 7, 2013. Major Gen. James Koang Chuol, Com-mander of the Fourth division of the SPLA reported that a soldier and his wife

died, and six people were injured, as a result of bombardment.5

Satellite Sentinel Project • www.satsentinel.org | Situation Report: Evidence of an Airstrike in South Sudan

Evidence of an Airstrike in South Sudan

satsentinel.org

Satellite Sentinel Project

The South Sudanese armed forces maintain three separately secured military installations in the Jau region, all within 4 kilometers of the center line and all within the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone (SDBZ). Continuing to maintain armed forces at these facilities is a clear violation of the two countries’ bilateral agreement to maintain a 20 kilometer- wide demilitarized zone along their border. Each observed installation has a line of tents surrounded by a perimeter of foxholes, which DigitalGlobe Analytics believe protects family structures near the center of the installations.

The September 7, 2013 SAF attack occurred three days after South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir recommitted themselves to peaceful relations and enforcing the nine bilateral cooperation agreements they signed on September 27, 2012.6

6. “Bashir, Kiir Pledge to Open New Page in Sudan Ties, Keep Oil Running,” *Reuters, *September 3, 2013, available at http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/09/03/world/africa/03reuters-sudan-south.html?_r=07. Waakhe Simon Wudu, “Calm Returns To Unity State’s Jau Area After SAF Bombings,” *Gurtong*, September 9, 2013, available online at http://www.gurtong.net/ECM/Editorial/tabid/124/ctl/ArticleView/mid/519/articleId/12866/Calm-Returns-To-Unity States-Jau-Area-after-Sudan-Bombings.aspx8 “SAF ‘surprise air strike’ on Jau – soldiers and civilians injured” *Radio Tamazuj, *July 5, 2013, available at https://radiotamazuj.org/en/article/saf-%E2%80%98surprise-air-strike%E2%80%99-jau-%E2%80%93-soldiers-and-civilians-injured9. “UPDATE - S. Sudan accuses Khartoum of fresh bombardments in Unity State,” *Sudan Tribune, *February 16, 2013, available athttp://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article45542; “9 Bombs in Jau, a Border City En Route to Yida Refugee Camp,”*Nuba Reports, *February 16,2013,available at http://www.nubareports.org/breaking/02162013-0916;

The two countries’ Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mission team was in Unity State at the time of the attack and traveled to the bomb site to investigate. According to Major Gen. Chuol, the team “even talked to the injured persons.”7 At the time of publication, the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism had not made any public statements about attack.

Jau has reportedly already been bombed by the SAF on two previous occasions this year: July 3, 20138 and February 14, 2013.9

Village of JauN

Jau, Unity State, South Sudan

DigitalGlobe Panchromatic Image, September 8, 2013

Figure 1

Bomb Crater

Jau

Intermittent perimeter of foxholes

Market

Crater 1.6km north of village

NJau, Unity State, South Sudan

DigitalGlobe Natural Color Image, July 12, 2013 DigitalGlobe Panchromatic Image, September 8, 2013

Figure 2

Probable bomb blast radius

Destroyed tent

Before/After: Evidence of airstrike outside Jau

Before/After: Evidence of airstrike outside Jau N

Jau, Unity State, South Sudan

DigitalGlobe Natural Color Image, July 12, 2013 DigitalGlobe Panchromatic Image, September 8, 2013

Figure 3

Probable bomb blast radius