One of the residents who fled the shooting scene South of Juba City speaking to Eye Radio journalist, Charles Wote - Eye Radio/Moses Awan

Authorities in Central Equatoria State have called for calm after the shooting in the Wongleri area, South of Juba mid-morning Thursday, March 23, 2023.

The state minister of Local government and Law Enforcement, Moro Genesio says the security forces were restoring law and order in the area.

The Wongleri area is situated a few kilometers south of Eye Radio premises.

The gunshots which lasted more than ten minutes forced many civilians to flee their homes.

Those who fled were mainly women and children.

Some of them narrated to Eye Radio what happened.

“I actually set the fire to make tea and heard heavy gunshots both small and big and then I left the place and started coming here. What I heard is that the forces were taken to go and open the road going to Kajo-Keji and the second statement is land grabbers.” one of the residents told Eye Radio.

“I heard heavy gunshots just behind our residential area and I started running away from the area. It just started a few minutes ago and that is why we are fleeing the area. We actually don’t know what is happening, but we have heard random gunshots near our homes that is why we are fleeing the area,” said the unnamed resident.

“It [gunshots] started at around 11’ o’clock and it was too much and most of the people had fled the area. People are just standing along the road,” another fleeing resident said.

The incident occurred shortly after five armored Toyota Land cruisers were seen passing by Eye Radio.

The motive of the shooting is unclear.

When contacted by Eye Radio this evening, the state Law Enforcement Minister says there should be no panic among the citizens.

Moro Genesio says the security forces were restoring law and order in the area.

“The forces were trying to restore order, let the people be calm. there should be no panic. Let the people wait until the right information is delivered but there must be no panic,” said Genesio.