South Sudan army downplays Juba gunfire as isolated security incidents

JUBA – The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) on Wednesday downplayed heavy gunfire that rattled residents of the capital Juba the previous night, saying they were isolated security incidents not linked to political motives.

Gunfire erupted in the Suk Melishia, Medan Rainbow, and Juba Na’Bari areas sparking panic among the civil population with a section of citizens on social media attributing it to fighting between the Tiger Battalion (the presidential guard) and the National Security Service (NSS).

But SSPDF spokesperson Major-General Lul Ruai Koang told a joint press conference with police that the two shooting incidents stemmed from unrelated individuals refusing searches at security checkpoints and confirmed that the shooting resulted in the wounding of one person.

“We would like to tell members of the public to coordinate with security forces, that are carrying out regular vehicle searches because what they are looking for at night are harmful instruments such as unlicensed guns, crude weapons like knives, machetes and forbidden drugs,” he said.

Koang identified the individuals involved as lawyer Santino Simon Aban, who was reportedly transporting two underage girls, and Tong Yay Akol, driving a vehicle belonging to the SSPDF. Both allegedly evaded searches, prompting soldiers to open fire.

“The other important thing is that the shootings occurred at intervals, and the shootings are not related because they were not connected, and there is no underlying security or political motives, they were purely individual related incidents,” Koang said.

Koang acknowledged that the incidents sparked further panic due to “trigger-happy armed individuals” who engaged in random shooting.

“The other thing that you also need to know is that after those genuine incidents were registered, some irresponsible armed men whether they are in the armed forces or in possession of guns illegally went on random shooting,” he said.

The shootings follow the deployment of presidential guards along key roads in Juba since July 20.

Lul further linked surge in insecurity in Juba and other towns to a lack of proper weapons storage facilities. He said the presence of firearms in the hands of civilians and armed forces within communities posed a “serious threat to public safety.”

“We do not have enough storage facilities. Sadly enough, we have not been embarking on construction of enough storage facilities and accommodation for our servicemen. And our number is huge,” he said.

The military spokesman further disclosed ongoing government initiatives to disarm civilians and armed opposition groups, aimed at improving public safety and protecting property.