A picture of a hand grenade. Photo: Curtsey

Authorities in Upper Nile State are investigating a grenade explosion that killed a woman and wounded 12 others on Sunday, March 27.

Luk Saadalha, the state information minister said the grenade explosion occurred at a social gathering in Hai Malakia residential area. 

Saadalha said some of the survivors were discharged on Monday while others are still being treated at the UN clinic.

Luk said a five-member investigation committee headed by the town mayor were formed to investigate the cause of the explosion.

He also said that the wounded will be interrogated as well.

“The committee headed by the Mayor of Malakal town including the various security agencies was formed yesterday, and we have visited the place of the incident and in our opinion,” he told Eye Radio from Malakal.

“We have decided that the survivors and the wounded people must be part of the investigation.”

However, the state minister of information dismissed claims that the explosion was a targeted attack on a certain ethnic group.

He said the explosion victims were from all the tribes of Malakal, an indication it was not a targeted incident.

“What is going on social media is not true, they didn’t take the information from the right sources or from the government. Those affected included, Maban, Dinka, and Shilluk they were part of the wounded people, even from Dinka Bharel Ghazal.”

“So, they didn’t confirm from state officials, they said what happens is a targeted attack by Padang or Shilluk to each other, but this is not true and we condemn it in the strongest term possible.”