At least two soldiers were confirmed killed and two others wounded in a shooting incident, besides the killing of a UN staff member in a separate attack in Torit town on Thursday night, shortly after President Salva Kiir issued a decree removing Imatong state governor from his position.

According to the decree broadcast by the state-owned South Sudan Television on Thursday night, Kiir issued a decision removing Governor Nartisio Loluke Manir.

Several eyewitnesses told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that a police officer opened fire on SPLA soldiers shortly after President Kiir removed the state governor.

They pointed out that the incident resulted in the killing of a policeman and a member of the SPLA army, besides the wounding of two others. The eyewitnesses noted that the wounded soldiers were taken to hospital for treatment.

Separately, the same eyewitnesses said a UN staff member was shot and killed by unknown gunmen while returning back to his residence after paying his condolences to one of his relatives near the airport on Thursday night.

"There was a UN staff member killed when he was returning back home around 3:00 am after attending a funeral, so he was shot dead," one witness said.