The South Sudan Civil Society Alliance has said that shots were fired on their chairperson Deng Athuai Mawiir and they are calling for a government investigation into the incident.

Mr Deng was attacked by unknown gun men on Friday evening in Juba.

“The South Sudan Civil Society Alliance strongly condemns the assassination attempt of our chairperson who is also the head of the Civil Society Organizations in the peace talks in Adis Ababa,” Acting chairperson of the alliance, James Koul Grang said at a press conference.

“The members of South Sudan Civil Society Alliance up to now do not know the motive behind the attempted assassination. Therefore we urge the Government of South Sudan, and the security organs to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Mr Deng was kidnapped in 2012 but he was found abandoned at road side days later.