Fire erupts at South Sudan army ammunition depot in Juba

JUBA – A fire erupted at an ammunition depot in Juba’s Qiada military barrack early on Sunday, causing a large blaze but no reported injuries, the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) said.

Major General Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF spokesman, confirmed the incident to Sudans Post in a phone call, stating the fire broke out around 12:10 AM local time and is currently being contained.

“There is no fighting in Juba,” Koang emphasized. “An ammunition depot at the Qiada caught fire and it is being dealt with.”

The incident is the latest in a series of fires at ammunition depots across South Sudan. In June 2023, a fire at an SSPDF depot in Unity State injured at least 15 people, including 5 civilians.

Located near the University of Juba, the Qiada barrack holds historical significance as the site of the initial clashes in December 2013 that ignited South Sudan’s five-year civil war.

The revitalized peace agreement ultimately ended the conflict in 2018.

The barrack currently houses a significant number of troops and the military hospital.