South Sudan's military chief has announced that the country will acquire anti aircraft missiles within a few months to defend its borders from attack by neighbouring Sudan.
When the South Sudanese military receives the weapons it will "not have an issue with air defence," General James Hoth Mai was quoted as saying at a meeting of high ranking military officers.
The world's newest independent nation has had no defence against the recent spate of bombings reported earlier on this blog and in the wider press, and this move adds a new dimension to this year's tensions which more recently appear to have eased, not least with the onset on the rainy season.
Of course, whilst the rains close down road transport and ground infrastructure, especially in the troubled northern regions, indiscriminate air strikes could potentially continue, and South Sudan's pledge to defend itself is understandable.
Wau Airport - with evidence of downed aircraft from previous conflicts
