Three police officers were injured during a violent protest by wounded and veteran SSPDF soldiers at the Finance Ministry in Juba, the military and police said.
The wounded soldiers – some walking on crutches and others missing limbs – staged violent protests at the National Ministry of Finance and Planning to demand that their wages be paid immediately.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the army’s spokesperson, said the demand by veterans was genuine and urged for calm as the government processes their payments.
“This morning, our wounded soldiers and veterans took to the Finance Ministry and barricaded the roads around the ministry to protest nonpayment of their treatment allowances. While there, one of the veteran soldiers removed his pistol and shot twice into the air,” he said.
The army’s spokesperson further said the protesting wounded soldiers were later convinced to retreat from the ministry with a promise to address their concerns.
“Nothing bad happened during their protest. There was a dialogue with them and they were convinced to leave. They left because the government was working to pay them. They have not been forgotten, they are our veterans and liberators but the reason for the delays is this situation faced by our country,” Lul said.
Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin said the situation was tense in the morning hours, but calm had been restored.
“What happened this morning at 9:00 am was that some wounded soldiers came to the Finance Ministry to demand their dues. They wanted to access the ministry but they were blocked by the police,” he said.
“So this resulted in a confrontation, but they later retreated into their cars. The gunshots you heard were that of a veteran who shot twice into the air with his pistol. The situation is now calm, but only three of our police officers sustained injuries, and they have been evacuated to the hospital. We don’t know how many people were wounded on the side of the wounded soldiers,” he added.
Reacting to the incident, Edmund Yakani, a renowned civil society activist, said: “It is unfortunate that soldiers who have offered their lives for the liberation struggle and our independence are ignored and neglected today. Their livelihood is no longer a priority for the country’s leadership.”
“Watching soldiers spotting guns against their fellow wounded soldiers for claiming their rights is painful and disturbing. The country’s leadership should respond positively to the claims of the wounded soldiers,” he added.
Yakani, who is the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO, urged the wounded soldiers to claim their rights in a non-violent and peaceful manner.
Radio Tamazuj could not immediately reach the representative of the protesting wounded soldiers for comment.