Juba, March 27, 2019 (SSNA) — A South Sudanese Member of Parliament (MP) was shot dead by unknown assailants while on a peace mission in Upper Nile region, a senior government official told the South Sudan News Agency (SSNA) on Wednesday.
The official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue explained that the lawmaker was on a boat with many civilians including his bodyguards when unidentified attackers opened fire on them, killing the MP, a police officer, and wounded an unspecified number of civilians.
The source reveals that the name of the deceased lawmaker is Deng Bol Ajak and that he was killed trying to promote the September 2018 peace agreement.
The SSNA understands that the incident happened in an area called Mandeng close to Nasir.
Deputy Spokesman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) Col. Lam Paul Gabriel says the armed opposition distances itself from the incident, describing it as “…an act done by criminals who don’t value the importance of peace.”
The government says it has launched an investigation into the issue.