SSPDF soldier shoots himself dead in Juba

JUBA – A soldier belonging to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) on Sunday morning shot himself dead in the country’s capital Juba, according to colleagues and police officers who are directly informed of the suicide.

Speaking to Sudans Post yesterday, a relative who refused not to be named said the incident took place in the capital Juba on Sunday and that the soldier, identified as Athian Dut Athian, hails from Northern Bahr el Ghazal state and has been serving in the army since 1987.

“The news of the suicide is true, but the claims that he shot himself because of salary delay from the government is not true. I think he might have been depressed by other things but not the salary delay because his salary cannot make $20 so it shouldn’t be a big deal coming on time or not,” the relative said.

When contacted by Sudans Post, police spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin declined to comment and said he has “heard of a soldier who committed suicide but I don’t have detail and also it is the leadership of the army who can weigh in on this because it is their personnel.”

There are rumors on social media that the SSPDF officer died by suicide, but no evidence suggesting so.

A statement from the family of the late soldier said they could not confirm or make conclusions that their son died by suicide and that “concerned” authorities are making investigation to determine how he died.

“The fact about the death of the late is being investigated by the institutions concerned, till now we do not want to make any statement or conclusion that the late has killed himself because there is no enough evidence that is so supporting it,” the family statement said.

The statement said a picture of the soldier being widely circulated on social media was taken without permission of the family and was mean to manipulate and “misinform the public about the course of my brother’s death.”

Speaking to Sudans Post from Northern Bahr el Ghazal, a relative who also refused to be named said that the late soldier’s body was flown to Aweil yesterday and then transported to Rum-Atak Ken village of Majok Diing Wol Boma in Ariath Payam, Aweil North County where he was laid to rest this morning.