South Sudan’s military says it had sent food supplies and salary arrears to calm angry soldiers protesting the non-payment of their salaries in the Pochalla area.

Government troops in Pochalla staged a protest on Monday morning and shot into the air for around three hours. The random shooting caused panic among local residents.

The soldiers were protesting against unpaid salaries for five months.

Army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the salary arrears of the soldiers in Pochalla had been paid. "The soldiers were protesting against the non-payment of their salaries and lack of food. Today, the army headquarters sent three months’ salary arrears to them," said Lul.

He added, "On the issue of food, two airplanes carried food supplies and medicines to the soldiers in Pochalla today morning. Another plane is also expected to arrive in the area, so the food supply will be enough for six months."

The senior army officer blamed bad conditions of road for the delay in paying salaries of government troops in Pochalla. "I want to tell the public that the issue of our soldiers in Pochalla has been resolved, and calm has returned to the area," said Lul.

Colonel Elijah Mabior, the commander of government forces in Pochalla, confirmed that the angry soldiers had been paid.  "Now, calm has returned to the area after the military headquarters supplied food that is enough for six months and two months’ salaries," said Mbior.

Acting County Commissioner Ochudho Ochan also confirmed that the security situation return to normal in Pochalla.