A battalion commander of the South Sudanese army (SPLA) was killed in Upper Nile State in unclear circumstances. His death is blamed on a bodyguard who has also been shot dead.

Lieutenant-Colonel Abraham Thiong’s death comes as “a great loss” to the army after he played a key role in recapturing Malakal, the army spokesman said today.

“We lost Lieutenant-Colonel Abraham Thiong Ajang. He was one of the battalion commanders in Malakal. What happened this morning is a great loss. He was shot by one of his bodyguards and the circumstances are not known,” SPLA spokesperson Colonel Philip Aguer told Eye Radio 98.6 in Juba.

An investigation at the battalion headquarters will be conducted to establish the causes of the incident. It is reported that the alleged killer was shot dead by another guard.

Col. Aguer described the lieutenant-colonel as “one of the heroes that protected Malakal and liberated Malakal,” adding “the loss of this Abraham Thiong from the SPLA in Malakal is a great loss.”

According to the spokesman, the late had a distinguished record including a successful operation to capture an aircraft sent from Khartoum in 2010 to ferry supplies and weapons to rebel forces loyal to George Athor. Aguer credited to Ajang the capture of the white helicopter at Poloch.

“He has a lot of achievements. He is a young officer. He has a lot of achievements within a short period of time,” said Aguer. He noted the body of the deceased will be flown to Juba and taken to his home town in Twic East County in Jonglei state. 

Photo: SPLA soldiers sit on a pick up truck during a patrol in Malakal on January 21, 2014 (AFP/Harrison Ngethi)