Gunfire disrupted voting in the ruling SPLM primaries in Tambura County, Western Equatoria State, on Wednesday, forcing 71 delegates to flee without voting, local officials said.
Tambura County Commissioner James Mupaya told Radio Tamazuj that the shooting occurred at around 11:30 a.m., about one mile from Freedom Square, where the voting was taking place.
About 350 delegates from Tambura and neighbouring Nagero counties were expected to participate, but 71, mainly from Central and Mopoi payams of Tambura County, fled when gunfire erupted and did not return, Mupaya said.
“The gunfire caused some delegates to run away from the voting centre, and 71 of them were unable to cast their votes,” he said.
Mupaya said candidates were seated in designated chairs, while delegates were expected to stand behind their preferred candidates before voting.
He said the shooting appeared intended to intimidate voters and disrupt the exercise rather than directly target the voting centre.
“The main intention, as I see it, was to scare people and disrupt the voting process rather than attack the voting centre directly,” he said.
National Security Service (NSS) forces responded and repulsed the attackers using artillery, Mupaya added.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Western Equatoria State Information Minister Noah Issah Philip blamed suspected Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) forces for the shooting. He said gunfire came from two directions, including the barracks area and the vicinity of a church in Itambra, about one mile from the town.
Philip said the shooting began at around 11:00 a.m., when voting was scheduled to start, prompting government forces to respond.
“Despite the exchange of gunfire, voting continued and was not completely stopped, although some delegates were affected,” he said.
About 350 delegates were expected to vote, but 71 from Mokoi and Tambura payams fled to their homes when the shooting began and did not return, Philip said.
He said no injuries were reported because the gunfire was directed into the air rather than at individuals.
“No injuries were reported, and the situation returned to normal by the afternoon,” he said, adding that markets reopened and residents resumed their daily activities.
SPLA-IO officials in the area could not immediately be reached for comment.
The shooting followed warnings circulated on social media on Tuesday by individuals identifying themselves as members of the SPLA-IO, cautioning political leaders in Tambura about possible insecurity and attacks.
The shooting raises concerns about the security of political activities and delegates’ ability to participate in the ongoing SPLM internal electoral process in parts of Western Equatoria State.
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