JUBA – Three people were reportedly killed and several others injured on Sunday morning when protection officers on a convoy of information minister Michael Makuei bound for Jonglei State clashed with an army unit manning a checkpoint at Mapaw suburb, east of Juba.
An eyewitness narrated that the armed confrontation occurred between Hon. Makuei’s protection forces and the security forces stationed at the Mapau checkpoint and resulted in three fatalities and five injuries.
John (not his real name) said the live fire started when the checkpoint unit requested to search all vehicles in the convoy escorting the body of the late Martha Atong Ajak, wife of Bishop Nathaniel Garang Anyieth, en route to Bor for burial.
Hon. Michael Makuei allegedly objected to the search of his convoy and directed his protection forces to resist the checkpoint forces.
“The security unit maintained that all vehicles must be searched in accordance with official security protocols. This disagreement quickly escalated into an exchange of gunfire,” he said.
The identities of the injured community members have not yet been confirmed. Following the incident, Hon. Michael Makuei Lueth’s convoy proceeded to Bor.
Established security procedures stipulate that all individuals and convoys are subject to search except the President.
Neither Minister Makuei nor the South Sudan National Police Service released a statement on the incident.
