A South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) officer has been arrested in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, after allegedly shooting and wounding two women in Malualkon Market last Friday, a government official said.
Paul Kuch, Aweil East County’s information director, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that Col. Peter Diang Akook opened fire while attempting to curb nighttime thefts and robberies in the market’s eastern area.
“The incident occurred last Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. when Col. Peter Diang Majok fired shots into the air to disperse buyers and sellers so security forces could address robberies,” Kuch said.
Authorities said the officer was under the influence of alcohol when he fired randomly, wounding two women—Abak Dut and Agau Dut—with the same bullet. Diang is now detained at a military facility in Wunyiik, headquarters of the SSPDF’s Division 3 Command.
Dr. Kur Bol, director of Malualkon Hospital, said one woman shot in the arm was discharged Tuesday, while the other, injured in the shoulder, remains under care but is in stable condition.
Peter Diing Ngong, executive director of the Wider Aid & Development Agency (WADA-SSD), condemned the shooting, calling it a human rights violation.
“On behalf of civil society organizations, I strongly condemn the Malualkon shootings,” Diing said. “Targeting unarmed civilians, especially women, is unacceptable, and we urge authorities to prevent such incidents in the future.”