Seven members of forces affiliated with the Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) were killed while protecting engineers repairing a damaged South Sudan oil pipeline, the Peace Government said on Monday.
The government said repeated attacks on the pipeline in the Hamadi area began on September 11, damaging a section used to transport South Sudanese crude through territory under its control.
According to its statement, an attack ruptured the pipeline and sparked fires across surrounding areas, threatening infrastructure and economic interests shared by Sudan and South Sudan.
Engineers and maintenance workers were subsequently deployed to carry out emergency repairs and contain the damage.
The Peace Government said a TASIS force assigned to protect the maintenance team was then attacked, killing seven of its members.
It said authorities would continue securing vital infrastructure and repair crews while working to reduce environmental damage caused by the pipeline rupture and restore the route used to transport South Sudanese oil.
The government called on the United Nations, African Union, IGAD and the wider international community to condemn attacks on critical infrastructure and hold those responsible accountable.
It accused the Sudanese Armed Forces and allied groups of carrying out the attacks, describing strikes on civilian infrastructure and economic facilities as violations of international humanitarian law.
The statement did not include a response from the SAF to the allegations, and The Sudan Times could not independently verify responsibility for the attacks.
