Speedy investigations into the shootings in Thongping will assure wary citizens

Fear gripped thousands of residents in Juba on Thursday night following heavy sporadic gunfire at the residence of Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, the former Director General of the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Services (NSS).

The shootings which analysts described as an internal power struggle should be investigated to reassure the wary citizenry. Many people who heard the heavy artillery fire were taken aback to the December 15, 2013 and July 2016 events.

The majority of residents are still searching for coherent and convincing answers from the State, and many feel the statements issued earlier by the Spokesperson of the SSPDF, Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, were not convincing enough.

Some residents near the epicenter of the shooting say about 27 people were killed in Thursday night shootings, and yet the army spokesperson said only four casualties were registered.

The top leadership of the transitional unity government should come out with the facts on what sparked the terrible incident on Thursday night at 7 p.m local time.

There is no need to hide our heads in the sand and wish away the problem, but serious investigations need to be done to get to the bottom of this regrettable incident.