‘Enemies of peace’ planned killing of top gov’t official in Malakal – minister

JUBA – A senior South Sudan government official has said that ‘enemies of peace’ are ruining the security situation in Malakal, the capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile state, saying the recent killing of a top government official there is a result of their actions.

Last week, an unidentified gunman shot dead the director general of the state ministry of physical infrastructure John Okony in his residence, raising fears among the residents.

Speaking to the media following a meeting with First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny in Juba on Thursday, livestock and fisheries minister Onyoti Adingo said he has discussed with the first vice president the security situation in Malakal.

“It is very unfortunate that this thing happened and I personally and my people we condemned this in the strongest term possible and that this is not acceptable,” he told the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) on Thursday evening.

“I came to discuss with His Excellency First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny about the security situation in Malakal because in fact two days ago one of the top government official who is a director general of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing in Upper Nile was gunned down at 7 o’clock by unknown gunmen,” he added.

The senior government official further accused unnamed enemies of peace of ruining the security situation in the Upper Nile state capital.

“These are enemies of peace. Malakal was becoming peaceful but because of many enemies of peace they started now making things which are not good for the people,” he said.