By Okech Francis
JUBA
At least 35 people were reportedly killed and 17 others wounded in an aerial bombing in Raga County of South Sudan's Western Bahr el-Ghazal State on Sunday morning, according to a local official.
"Some 35 people were killed and 17 people were wounded when an Antonov bomb landed in the heavily populated area," Raga county commissioner Hassan Jallab told Anadolu Agency by phone.
Jallab described the bombing as "barbaric and unprovoked," and blamed it on neighboring Sudan.
He said that fearing more bombings, many civilians have since taken shelter in the bushes, urged the government in Juba to intervene and assist the displaced people.
The South Sudan Liberation Army (SPLA) spokesperson, Col Philip Aguer, confirmed the bombing.
"What we have now is that an Antonov bombed the area today morning," he told AA in Juba.
"We are still establishing the make of the plane but what we know is that the plane came from the direction of Sudan," said Aguer.
"We have received reports by the sector commander on the ground that 17 people were wounded in the bombing," he said.
"We are yet waiting for more reports on this," added Aguer when asked him about fatalities.
"The SPLA is sending an investigation team to Raga tomorrow," said the spokesman.
Sudanese authorities were not immediately available to comment on the allegation.
Western Bahr el-Ghazal, South Sudan's least populous state, shares borders with Sudan and the Central African Republic.
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