Eight soldiers of the South Sudanese army were killed and 13 others wounded during a firefight that broke out in Mundri on Wednesday night sparked by drunken soldiers.
The soldiers were from a battalion 650 men strong being mobilized from Western Equatoria State toward the front in Bor.
“This battalion from Western Equatoria is a mixed force of Dinka, Nuer, Acholi and Latuko, and other tribes,” explained SPLA spokesman Col. Philip Aguer.
“They were coming from Maridi. When they arrived in Mundri they spent the night there. At night unfortunately some of them went and drank and two soldiers fought.”
“And when the soldiers fought unfortunately somebody released a bullet, and that caused random shooting. They were shooting among themselves, unfortunately 8 of them died and 13 of them were wounded,” added Aguer.
The army spokesman was speaking at a press conference in Juba on Friday. He dismissed the fight as ‘baseless’ and ‘accidental,’ describing it as a friendly fire incident which was caused by ‘high suspicion.’
Aguer also noted that the battalion passed today through Juba and is on its way to enforce troops aiming to recapture Bor.
Photo: Mundri District (Wikipedia)