At least 20 die in deadly South Sudan shootings - Africa Review

At least 19 people have been killed and 12 wounded in separate shootings in South Sudan, officials said Friday, as the nascent country struggles to maintain security.

An army platoon trying to recover stolen cattle in Chueibet County, Lakes State, clashed with armed civilians leading to the death of ten people.

The dead were seven soldiers and three civilians, Chueibet County commissioner Isaac Mayom Malek said, as arms continue to remain in the hands of civilians following years of conflict.

Tension persists in the county as the army deploys more soldiers in the area.

"The situation will be clear after some hours from now,” Mr Mayom said.

In a separate incident, nine people were killed when unknown gunmen ambushed a truck in Panyijar County, along the road to the state capital Bentiu, in the oil-rich Unity State.

The state’s security advisor, Manyie Dak, however ruled out cattle rustling, suggesting militias could be responsible for the attack.

The army spokesman, Col Philip Aguer Panyang, said details were not immediately available on the attacks, but suggested that they could be localised incidents.