South Sudan army arrests soldiers linked to new year shooting

January 2, 2015 (JUBA) - South Sudanese army Friday announced the arrest of soldiers involved into the unauthorised shooting during the New Year night

The South Sudanese army (SPLA) spokesperson, Phillip Aguer (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

The shooting by undisciplined solders to celebrate the new year caused momentary panic and disorder among Juba’s population, as some of whom thought it was an attack.

The army spokesperson, Philip Aguer told reporters on Friday about 30 soldiers have been identified and arrested. Aguer attributed the shooting to trauma brought by the legacy of war of the liberation struggle.

However, the commander of the presidential guard force division, Major General Marial Cinduong, urged the citizens to report to the army those they know to have participated in the shooting during the New Year’s Eve night.

“What happened was an act of indiscipline. Some soldiers defied orders and directives from the general command of the joint operations. There was so much confusion and panic. I never slept because I was receiving lots of calls from everybody inquiring what was happening,” he said.

The general whose forces split in December 2013, said in statement broadcast by the state owned South Sudan television on Friday that the sporadic gunfire and unauthorised shooting lasted for several hours during the new year night, beginning late on 31st December and resumed early morning on January 1, 2015.

(ST)