Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin, the Spokesperson of South Sudan National Police Service, Tuesday 9th Aug 2022. Credit: Charles Wote/Eye Radio.

The South Sudan Police appeals to Juba residents to stay calm after the murder-suicide incident which occurred at the home of a vice president on Friday morning.

On May 19, 2023, a bodyguard of the Vice President for Economic Cluster, who was reportedly drunk, shot dead his colleague before turning his gun on him.

According to Nelson Leju, Deputy Spokesperson at the office of Dr. James Wani Igga, the unnamed soldier killed a Lieutenant Colonel and wounded two others who are currently admitted in hospital.

Meanwhile, Police Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin said the shooting incident, which caused panic in the high-security zone of the city, was not politically motivated.

“Regarding the incident that took place yesterday, in which ten gunshots were fired, causing panic, and fear among the citizens, I would like to assure the public that the accident was an individual criminal that occurred among the guards of the Vice President,” Justin said on state television SSBC.

“The issue has been resolved, and we are now conducting investigations to find out the background of the accident. I would like to once again assure the citizens that the accident is criminal only and has no political background.

According to the account from the office of the vice president, the soldier first started quarreling with his colleagues before committing the murder-suicide incident.