A Somali national was killed and a vehicle set on fire during a road ambush in South Sudan authorities confirmed on Monday The attack happened along a busy highway connecting the capital Juba to other parts of the country
Eyewitnesses said that the vehicle was traveling from Juba when it was suddenly ambushed by unknown gunmen The attackers opened fire killing one person believed to be a Somali national on the spot and setting the vehicle on fire before fleeing the scene
Local officials said investigations are ongoing but no arrests have been made so far The motive of the attack remains unclear but similar incidents have happened in the past involving bandits or armed groups targeting travelers for robbery or political reasons
The identity of the Somali victim has not been released as authorities are working to notify the family Security forces arrived at the scene after the attackers had already escaped and found the vehicle still burning
South Sudan has been struggling with insecurity especially along major roads where armed groups often target travelers despite efforts by the government to increase patrols and checkpoints
The Somali embassy in Juba has not yet issued a statement but it is expected to follow up on the incident and work with South Sudanese officials to ensure the safety of its nationals in the country
Human rights groups and civil society organizations have condemned the attack calling on the government to do more to protect civilians and bring those responsible to justice
