Gen. Manywir Malual Turoah. (Photo/Social Media).

A senior commander of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force was shot dead by armed youth conducting a celebratory gunfire in Mayom County of Unity State on Thursday, the army confirmed.

The deceased, Brigadier General Manywier Malual Turoal is the Second in command of Special Operations Forces, in Mayom County.

He was shot dead by armed youth during a celebratory gunfire that “terribly went wrong” in Mankien Payam, SSPDF Spokesperson, Major General Lul Ruai Koang said.

“Heavily armed Bul-Nuer youth were celebrating arrival at Reer village of spiritual leader Gatdeng, when they started shooting into the air resulting in unintentional killing of the army general,” Lul said in a statement on Facebook.

General Lul said the SSPDF headquarters will dispatch high level command to stabilise security situation.