One person was killed, and another was hurt in a drive-by shooting in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, on Saturday afternoon, the military said.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the Spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), said the incident took place when unidentified gunmen opened fire randomly on pedestrians at the Seventh Day Roundabout.
“Unidentified armed men opened fire on passengers waiting for public transport at Seventh Day Roundabout, killing one on the spot and wounding another,” Maj. Gen. Lul said on his Facebook page.
He added,” Then the gunmen sped off via ABMC-Customs Road, where they fired into the air one more shot. Security forces are still tracking them down.”
The military spokesperson said the motive behind the incident remains unclear.
No arrests have been made so far.
The senior military officer reaffirmed the security forces’ commitment to crack down on criminal activities in the capital.
Juba has recently witnessed nighttime shootings, which the authorities attribute to armed gangs.
Reacting to the latest incident, online accounts from some netizens accused the security forces in Juba of laxity, questioning how a criminal group can kill and shoot civilians in broad daylight.
Kuey Kang said: ” If people can be shot and killed in the brought daylight, this means no security personnel at work due to lack of monthly payment.” “Seventh Day Roundabout is in the heart of Juba City. How did the armed men escape? How safe are the citizens if criminals can escape easily like that?” asked Paulex Wilson.