A humanitarian truck was ambushed Monday along a major road in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state, wounding the driver, local officials said.
The attack occurred around 10 a.m. on the Yambio-Juba road in Mundri East County as the truck traveled through the towns of Lainya, Doro and Buagyi, said Henry Ngalamu, the county commissioner.
“The driver was shot in the leg but managed to drive to Jambo, where he received help,” Ngalamu told Radio Tamazuj. “Only one person was injured. The attackers’ identities are unknown, but we suspect it could be the NAS group, which has carried out similar attacks.”
NAS Spokesperson Suba Samuel could not immediately be reached for comment.
An eyewitness, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said the truck was heavily fired upon between Doro and Buagyi. The witness, traveling the same route, said they could not stop to assist due to security fears.
Western Equatoria State Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Philip Madut Tong confirmed the driver suffered only a leg injury and no one was killed.
“The truck belongs to a U.N. agency,” Tong said. “We are investigating to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.”
The Lui-Doro-Juba road has seen multiple ambushes in recent months, targeting both civilian and aid vehicles. South Sudan remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for humanitarian workers.
No U.N. agency has yet commented on the incident.