Gunshots broke the quiet of Juba’s evening curfew on Saturday as government officials tried to quell rumors of Nuer militias approaching the city. 

None of the shooting is confirmed to have involved hostilities between major armed groups, and at least two incidents were reportedly sparked off by drunken soldiers. 

Shooting from the Giyada base, known also as the old JIU headquarters, was continuous for around 10 minutes at about 8:30 p.m. 

The president’s spokesman, reached by phone soon after the events, claimed the Giyada incident was started when a drunken soldier fired into the air, causing panic among other soldiers some of whom began also shooting. 

Juba residents meanwhile reported sporadic shootings elsewhere as well, including Hai Neem, Atla Bara, and the area of the National Security building in Jebel. The city was quiet by about 10:00 p.m. 

Security sources pointed to another two incidents, one involving a confrontation between a police patrol and an allegedly armed man in plain clothes in the Atla Bara area, the other at a compound in Tong Ping.

The latter incident occurred near to the oil company highrise on UNMISS road, at the home of an SPLA commander who is based in Eastern Equatoria. Many soldiers are staying at the home and they were allegedly drinking. There were no casualties reported there.

No shootings were yet reported in Juba’s suburbs on the eastern bank of the Nile, indicating that none of the opposition forces that recently fought on the Juba-Bor road were involved. The government claims these forces have been repulsed south of Bor, and that it also took back the town itself, which is the capital of Jonglei State.

The same sources suggest, however, that the group of defectors from the presidential guards who withdrew toward Khor William during the clashes on 15-17 December were not all captured or killed at that time.

Security forces may be concerned that this group from the 10^th Brigade of the Tiger Division still poses a threat to the city. It could not be confirmed whether they were involved in the events of Saturday night.

The president’s spokesman has announced a press conference at 10 a.m. tomorrow to provide details on the night’s events.