A South Sudanese opposition lawmaker has been shot dead near his home in the capital, Juba, family members and colleagues said.
Gunmen attacked Luka Mathen Toupiny Luk in the Gudele area at about 10 p.m. on Saturday, fatally shooting the 36-year-old MP, according to colleagues.
Luka was a member of the Council of States, the upper house of parliament, representing Cueibet County in Lakes State. He chaired the specialised committee on education, science, and technology.
He was a member of the United Sudan African Party (USAP), part of the Other Political Parties (OPP) coalition, a signatory to the country’s 2018 revitalised peace agreement.
Lawmaker Manyot Magar told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that Luka had attended a party meeting earlier on Saturday before being driven home. He later left his house to watch a televised football match between Chelsea and Everton elsewhere.
“After he finished watching the game and was about to return home, six people emerged behind him and shot him while he was on the phone,” Magar said.
He said the lawmaker was hit by multiple bullets, including a wound to the abdomen, and died at the scene.
The motive behind Luka’s killing is yet to be known.
Magar said security personnel pursued the attackers and arrested two suspects, while four others escaped.
“Two of the suspects were caught and taken to the police for investigation,” he said.
A close family member, Sabit Daniel Deer, confirmed the arrests and said the two suspects were from Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State and Gogrial in Warrap State.
Deer urged calm as investigations continue.
The killing has renewed calls for better security for lawmakers in Juba. Members of parliament have repeatedly complained about a lack of protection.
Magar appealed to the government to provide full protection for members of both houses, saying they were vulnerable due to a lack of official transport and security.
Luka was appointed to the Council of States following the signing of the 2018 peace agreement. He was previously a court clerk.
South Sudan’s government had not yet issued an official statement.