An SSPDF soldier was stabbed to death by unknown criminals while burning charcoal in Kimotong, Budi County of Eastern Equatoria State over the weekend.
Authorities said the soldier was stabbed as he tried to escape from the suspected criminals.
South Sudan is going through an economic crisis that has seen civil servants and the organized forces go without pay for almost a year, prompting them to devise alternative means of survival.
Kimotong Payam Administrator Arkangelo Lokolimoi told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the incident occurred at around 6pm.
Lokolimoi said the local youth followed the footmarks of the suspected criminals, saying they pointed to them entering a gold mining area in Kimotong.
“This soldier was going to burn his charcoal and he was killed there. The footmarks of his killers led to the mountain where people mine gold,” he said,
BUDI County Executive Director Alfred Odong confirmed the incident, saying forces were on the ground investigating the matter.
He cautioned the residents against using guns to kill or threaten others, saying it portrayed a bad image of the county.
Kimotong legislator representing SPLA-IG Angelo Lomoi condemned the incident, accusing the youth from Ngauro Payam of being responsible.
He pledged to collaborate with organized forces in the area to ensure the perpetrators were apprehended to face justice.
The Ngauro Payam authorities were not immediately available for a comment.