South Sudan opposition-aligned lawmaker shot dead in Juba

JUBA – A South Sudanese lawmaker was shot dead late on Tuesday night after unidentified gunmen stormed his home in the capital, underscoring growing concerns over the safety of public officials, according to family members and political sources.

The lawmaker, Luka Mathen Toukpiny Luk, who represented Cueibet County of Lakes State in the Council of States, was killed at around 10:00 p.m. when armed assailants entered his residence in Gudele neighbourhood in Juba.

He was shot inside his compound, shortly after returning from a prayer, and died an hour later at a nearby hospital, sources said.

His wife, Nyan Akolde, told Sudans Post that two suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing, while two others remain at large, as security forces continue their investigation into the attack.

“Two of the people who killed my husband have been arrested. One is from Aweil and the other is from Gogrial, while two more suspects are still on the run,” she said, urging authorities to ensure all those involved are brought to justice.

Mathen was appointed to the Council of States under the terms of South Sudan’s 2018 revitalized peace agreement, on the ticket of the Other Political Parties (OPP). He replaced Malok Acuoth.

During his tenure, Mathen served as chair of the Council of States’ specialized committee on education, where colleagues say he was vocal, independent and deeply engaged in constituency and policy issues.

Opposition SPLM-IO lawmaker Juol Nhomngek Daniel, speaking to Sudans Post on Sunday morning, said the motive for the killing remains unclear and that no confirmed dispute has yet been linked to the attack.

“The reason why he was killed is still not known. He was attacked last night at around 10 p.m., and by 11 p.m. he had passed away,” Juol said.

Juol described Mathen as an active lawmaker who was willing to challenge senior figures in parliament, including on sports-related and community issues, though such disagreements had not escalated into broader political conflict.

“He was strong and knew what he was doing. He could oppose leaders in parliament, but these were not conflicts shared by many people,” he said.

According to Juol, Mathen was also known for supporting education in his constituency, including helping a student secure a scholarship through his role as chair of the education committee.

“He worked on community issues and helped students. One student was accepted for a scholarship based on his recommendation,” he said.

Juol said the killing reflects wider institutional weakness in South Sudan, where lawmakers and government officials remain highly vulnerable due to a lack of state-provided protection.

“If government officials are not protected, how can they represent the people?” he asked, adding that MPs across political affiliations face similar risks.

Authorities have not yet released an official statement identifying the attackers or outlining a motive for the killing, as investigations continue.