At least two people were shot dead in Lainya County, Central Equatoria State, in what looks like a renewed clashes between the rival forces.
Jackson Lado, a resident of Mukaya Payam in Lainya County, said, “the chief of the area where fighting erupted told me that two people were killed.”
He said several bullets were fired, but he did not know who were exchanging fire.
“We heard a lot of gunshots due to clashes, but I do not exactly know whether those were rebels fighting the government or the government fighting rebels,” Jackson said.
He said the payam authorities, in collaboration with the Boma leaders, were investigating the incident in order to find out the killers of those civilians.
“There was a civilian shot on the leg and another one injured before those people ran to that side of Keden (an area in Mukaya),” he recounted.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) were not successful, as phone calls made to Maj. General Lul Raui Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson, were not answered.
The head chief for Lainya County, John Matthew also confirmed the incident in Mukaya.
“Yesterday (Friday), I was informed that two people were injured. I got this information from the chief of the area, who left some days ago for Yei,” he said.
“He (the chief) didn’t know who was fighting who, but the fighting happened and we don’t know the details,” he explained.
However, when contacted for comment, Emmanuel Khamis Lainya County Commissioner said he was not aware of the killings and clashes.
