Fatal Beating Shocks Juba Community
A broad daylight assault in Thongpiny left 26-year-old civil engineer Jacob Mathiang fatally injured. Witnesses say soldiers identified as bodyguards of Gen. Garang Ayii punched and kicked him around 2 p.m., inflicting severe head wounds that proved unrecoverable at a local hospital.
Eyewitness Narratives and Soldier’s Explanation
One detained soldier claims Mathiang labelled the group “stupid,” sparking an immediate attack. Another observer recalls the men halting their vehicle, confronting the engineer and fleeing once he collapsed. A bystander phoned Gen. Garang, prompting orders for the assailants to return and transport the victim.
Medical Efforts and Tragic Outcome
Doctors at a private clinic attempted emergency surgery to repair a fractured skull. Despite their intervention, internal bleeding persisted, and Mathiang succumbed later that night, underscoring the gravity of the initial blows.
Promising Career Cut Short
The young engineer graduated with honours in November 2022 and quickly joined the University of Juba’s Directorate of Engineering and Construction Management. Colleagues admired his precision and work ethic, calling his death a profound loss for the campus and national talent pool.
Military Discipline Under Renewed Scrutiny
Local voices point to the episode as evidence of lingering indiscipline within sections of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces. The army leadership has repeatedly promised reforms, yet sporadic abuses continue to test public confidence in uniformed institutions.
Legal Process and Family Demands
Police confirmed one arrest and say further inquiries are underway. Mathiang’s relatives seek transparent prosecution, while university officials urge calm and due process. Human-rights observers argue that visible accountability could deter future incidents and reassure a traumatised community.