Over 30 soldiers arrested for burning military warehouse in Unity State

More than 30 officers of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) have been arrested over suspicion of burning the military ammunition warehouse in Rubkona town.

Maj. Gen William Manyang Mayak, the SSPDF infantry division four commander, said the incident which occurred on Thursday evening left 14 civilians nursing injuries sustained from the explosion at the military warehouse.

“Yes our military warehouse was burnt but we are investigating the root cause, we have arrested more than 30 soldiers. We have arrested them because they are suspects,” Mayak told Juba Echo during an interview in division four headquarter.

He said the suspects in detention had access to the keys of the military warehouse.

 James Mathok Koang, the director of Bentiu state hospital, said that the 14 wounded civilians are receiving treatment at the main referral facility. He said some of the injured are in critical condition.

“Among the 14 patients, 6 of them are women and a 13 year- old girl and 7 seven of them were men in army uniforms, some of them are civilians residing near the division headquarter in Rubkona town,” Mathok said.

In 2013, the military ammunition warehouse was gutted by fire following outbreak of fighting among soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and his then Vice President Riek Machar.