The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has denied that they were involved in the shooting at Africa Resource Corporation (ARC) construction workers demanding their salary arrears.
To protest lack of pay, ARC workers constructing the Terekeka-Bhar el Ghazal Road blocked the highway on Tuesday at Tombek.
According to the reports, nine individuals were killed when SSPDF soldiers who had been sent in to restore order opened fire on the construction workers.
Major-General Lul Ruai Koang, the army’s spokesperson, denied any involvement in the shooting of construction workers at Tombek.
“No, that is not true. It was reported for sure and I got in touch with the concerned authorities. They were not shot at but convinced by their employer who promised to pay them next week. We were not involved,” he said. “They were told by the employer that they would be paid. It was a strike over pay. So, they were promised by their employer that they would be paid and that is how they left.”