Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — The new republic of South Sudan has demonstrated a
newly-found air defense capability.

Officials said South Sudan has begun operating surface-to-air missiles
along the border with Sudan. They said the new unidentified air defense
systems have shot down at least one fighter-jet from the Sudanese Air Force.

“Their planes have been bombing our positions, and finally one was shot down by our defenses,” South Sudan military spokesman Col. Philip Aguer said.

Aguer said a Sudanese MiG-29 fighter was downed on April 4 during a raid of South Sudan. The spokesman did not identify the air defense system, but added that military units were trying to recover the Russian-origin MiG.

This marked the first report of South Sudan downing an aircraft of the Sudanese Air Force. Since late 2011, Khartoum has ordered nearly daily bombings of positions within South Sudan, including oil fields and towns.

“There has been fighting for more than six months now,” Aguer said.

Western diplomats said South Sudan was acquiring military assistance
from several countries. In 2011, Washington lifted a ban that would enable
South Sudan to receive military equipment.

  Col. Philip Aguer, downs Sudanese MiG-29, oil fields bombed, S. Sudan has surface-to-air missiles, Sudanese MiG-29, surface-to-air missiles