A driver attached to the Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly was killed and two people, including an SPLM official, were wounded after unknown gunmen ambushed their convoy on the Torit–Magwi road on Thursday.
The delegation was travelling to Pageri in Magwi County to launch the ruling SPLM’s grassroots membership registration campaign when it came under attack near the Tutumore area.
The driver, Adolfo Ngachan, died at the scene.
Those injured were SPLM delegation member Emilio Iga and a security bodyguard. Eastern Equatoria SPLM deputy chairperson Dr. Margaret Itto Leonardo, who was travelling with the delegation, escaped unharmed.
“They were going to Pageri for the SPLM registration launch with Honorable Dr. Margaret Itto and Honorable Emilio Iga. They fell into an ambush, and he (Ngachan) was driving. Two were injured,” Eastern Equatoria State Legislative Assembly Speaker Charles Udwar Ukech told Radio Tamazuj.
Udwar described Ngachan as one of the Assembly’s longest-serving drivers, saying he had served the institution since before the 2010 elections.
“It is sad for us to lose him. He has been a very dedicated driver. We dearly miss him,” he said.
Eastern Equatoria State Police Commissioner Gen. Abdallah Aziz Pieng Ngor confirmed the attack and said investigations were underway.
“The attackers are unknown gunmen, and investigations are continuing to establish who was behind the ambush,” he said.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and police said no arrests had been made.
The ambush comes as the SPLM conducts nationwide membership registration ahead of South Sudan’s planned general elections in December. Political parties have begun intensifying grassroots mobilisation as campaigning gathers pace.
Civil society groups condemned the attack, warning that continued insecurity could undermine political activities and preparations for the elections.
Lazarus Saviour, a civil society activist with the Support Peace Initiative Development Organization (SPIDO), said political leaders must be able to move freely to engage with communities.
“This is unfortunate at a time when people are preparing for elections. Leaders need to move freely to engage communities and carry out political activities, including membership registration,” he said.
He called on authorities to bring those responsible to justice and strengthen security to prevent similar attacks during the election period.
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