Juba County Commissioner Charles Joseph Wani - Credit: Awan Moses/Eye Radio

The commissioner of Juba County on Wednesday denounced the killing of civilians in clashes between security forces and armed elements in KworIjik Boma near the capital.

On Tuesday, the police said six people were killed after armed civilians fought the organized forces over a land issue in Kworijik Boma, northwest of the capital.

Commissioner Charles Joseph Wani says the death toll has risen to seven people and many an unspecified number of civilians have been wounded.

The fighting reportedly erupted near a funeral place and all those killed were civilians caught in the crossfire.

Wani accused armed Mundari men and some members of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces of perpetrating the incident.

In a press conference on Wednesday, the commissioner condemned the incident and called for the state government intervention.

“I would like to extremely denounce the inhumane act of violence to innocent civilians in the strong terms possible,” he said.

“Such horrible and obvious atrocities continue to persist in different parts of Juba and central Equatoria state in general, where innocent lives of civilians are being lost on a regular basis due to the presence of arms in the hands of people.”

“I am calling on the state government to intervene so that calm and peace is restored and delivery of essentials items to women and children is paramount to alleviate the suffering of the people.”

When contacted for comment, the SSPDF Spokesperson Major General Lul Ruai Koang said the accusation against the army has not been proven.

“Well, the accusations lack specific information on the individuals that were involved. We would like to know more from Hon. Commissioner regarding the identity of those individuals,” he said.

“We heard over the social media accusing us of wrong doings. He has to make a formal complaint in written form and as well as give more information on those individuals.”