By Chol D. Johnson
A tea seller woman was shot dead on Wednesday evening along Malakal Street by a drunken member of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), sparking renewed concerns over military indiscipline.
Upper Nile State Minister of Information, Peter Ngwojo Akwiny, confirmed the incident to No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper on Thursday,the soldier responsible has been arrested.
“The drunken SSPDF soldier who killed the tea seller woman is currently in police custody and will be judged according to the rule of law,” Ngwojo said.
He described the shooting as an isolated case, explaining that the soldier had been firing bullets into the air before joint security forces intervened revealing that the tea seller was fatally shot during the exchange.
“It was an isolated case, the drunken soldier just shooting on air,” Ngwojo added.
Authorities said the victim’s name has not yet been identified, as relatives have not come forward noting that Police investigations are ongoing, and the case will be referred to court.
When contacted about the incident, SSPDF spokesperson Gen. Lul Ruai Koang told this outlet that he had not yet received official information from Malakal but stressed that such cases must be handled by civilian law enforcement.
“If it happened in Malakal, the police will be responsible and take measures,” he told to this outlet.
He reiterated that soldiers accused of crimes are subject to prosecution. “When law enforcement personnel like me commit crimes, they will be charged with the crimes they did,” Ruai said.
The killing adds to a series of troubling reports of SSPDF soldiers clashing with civilians in Upper Nile. In February 2025, four SSPDF soldiers were killed and at least 10 civilians injured in clashes with armed residents in Nasir town.
Human Rights Watchdog also reported in February that SSPDF attacks on civilians in Nasir displaced thousands and injured scores, including a peacekeeper.
These incidents underscore persistent concerns about accountability and discipline within the army, particularly in conflict‑affected states like Upper Nile.
Authorities have promised justice in the Malakal case, but citizens will be eager to see whether the soldier is prosecuted and whether measures are taken to prevent similar tragedies.