Targeted attack shocks Juba political class
Luka Mathen Toukpiny Luk, a Council of States member, was shot inside his Gudele compound around 22:00 on Sunday. Eyewitnesses say armed men slipped through the gate minutes after the lawmaker returned from evening prayers, firing several rounds before fleeing into the narrow lanes.
The National Democratic Movement described the attack as “barbaric,” urging security agencies to, in its words, “close the chapter on unknown gunmen.” Spokesperson Kai Tap Gatchang said the capital must not become a place where public servants fear walking into their own homes.
Widow confirms arrests amid ongoing manhunt
Speaking to local radio, widow Nyan Akolde confirmed two detainees from Aweil and Gogrial. “I appeal to authorities to bring everyone involved to justice,” she said, her voice breaking as relatives gathered outside the hospital morgue.
Security sources say a nationwide alert has been circulated for the remaining suspects, believed to have escaped toward the northwest of the city. Investigators recovered spent cartridges and a phone, now undergoing forensic examination for call logs.
Calls grow to end era of ‘unknown gunmen’
A string of drive-by shootings and night-time burglaries has plagued Juba since 2022, often attributed to faceless assailants lumped under the label “unknown gunmen.” Analysts warn the phrase masks deeper issues of disarmament, accountability, and overlapping command structures within security forces.
Opposition parties, civil society, and church leaders jointly called for a transparent security review, noting that lasting peace depends on citizens’ confidence. Government spokespeople said arrests demonstrate seriousness, adding that additional patrols and community policing initiatives are being scaled up across hot-spot neighbourhoods.
Peace roadmap faces credibility moment
The late Mathen joined the Council of States under the 2018 Revitalised Agreement, replacing Malok Acuoth for the Other Political Parties cluster. Colleagues praise his focus on rural education, recalling his push for science labs in Cueibet’s secondary schools.
While investigations proceed, observers see the case as a test of the revitalised peace roadmap. Swift prosecution, they argue, could reassure investors and humanitarian partners that South Sudan’s institutions are maturing after years of conflict.
For now, streets darken earlier in Gudele, residents hoping that this tragedy will spur the decisive reforms repeatedly promised from Juba’s cabinet meetings.