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Protests in Juba after soldier kills six people 

Wednesday June 03 2020
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Hundreds of residents protested after a soldier killed six people over a land dispute in South Sudan. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By Garang Malak

Hundreds of residents in Sherikat Suburb of Juba, South Sudan, on Wednesday morning matched in the streets demanding justice after a soldier shot dead six civilians and injured seven others over a land dispute.

A statement from the president's office, signed by Press Secretary Ateny Wek Ateny, said Mr Kiir "is saddened about the shooting." It added that the incident would be investigated.

According to protestors, Mr Lual Akook, a senior army officer, killed the civilians following a quarrel over land.

Residents protested using placards that read ‘Kiir Must Go’, ‘Lual Is A killer’, ‘We Don’t Need a Killing Regime’, among others.

Protesters told The EastAfrican that Mr Akook refers to himself as the president’s son and has been harassing them over land.

The president's office denied that Mr Akook is Mr Kiir's son, but said he is a distant relative.

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“We are calling on the South Sudan government to intervene, because killing of innocent people is against humanity,” resident Nyang John said.

“We are tired of this nonsense,” added Peter Deng Garang.

In response, SSPDF spokesman Gen Lul Ruai told The EastAfrican, “We will subject him [Mr Akook] to our SSPDF legal procedures in accordance with the SPLA Act. He was arrested this morning and it's true that he was with some soldiers. We are yet to find out whether what he did was lawful act or an illegal act.”

Malir Peter Biar, the executive director of Christian Agency for Peace and Development, condemned the killings and urged the president to intervene.

- Additional reporting by The EastAfrican.

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