Aerial view a section of Juba City. Photo: Courtesy

Two people took their lives under unclear circumstances, and a petrol station guard was shot dead by unknown assailants in Juba over the weekend, a police official has said.

The police spokesperson, Major General Daniel Justin said two people had taken their own lives under unclear circumstances in Munuki Residential Area on Saturday evening.

The official said the first incident – of a 22-year-old girl occurred in Munuki Block A, and the second suicide involved a 32-year-old man at Block C in the same residential area.

The third victim is a petrol station guard, who was shot dead by unknown gunmen at Referendum roads in Gudele area.

“In Gudele as well, there is a petrol station guard who was shot by unknown persons, which caused his death. A police patrol arrived near the scene. A criminal complaint was opened, and the police are now conducting investigations,” said the security official.

General Justin said the perpetrators escaped. He said the motive behind the crime is still unknown, but that the police opened an inquiry into the matter and transferred the bodies to the mortuary.

“Investigations are still underway to find out the motives so far. There is no clear reason, but through investigations, we will know if there are family disputes.”

According to Eye Radio data collected from some states, suicide is on the rise in South Sudan, a concern for authorities in a country with one of the largest mental health gaps in the world.

In 2021 alone, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State recorded 38 suicide cases, 27 of whom were women and girls – and 11 were men.