The command of the SPLA-Juba faction on Thursday issued a statement condemning the random shooting during New Year night. The shooting caused panic among residents of the Juba town, some of whom thought there was an attack.

SPLA-Juba spokesperson, Colonel Philip Aguer said Thursday the shooting defied the orders and directives not to fire any bullet on the eve of New Year and must have been the result of indisciplined soldiers acting under the influence of alcohol.

The spokesperson described the shooting as a shameful act by those who did not respect the instructions given by the army not to fire bullets in the air.

‘‘It was an unfortunate excitement. The shooting into the air is not lawful. We feel as the joint command of the army and the police shamed because that was out of indiscipline. And we hope that nobody was harmed during that shooting to mark crossing into a new year,” Aguer said.

He attributed the shooting to the long history of combat that has traumatized soldiers, most of whom are accustomed to shooting randomly into the air. He says the military hospital lacks psychiatrists who should be helping to treat such cases.

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