By William Madouk
A love story has ended in tragedy in Gudele area of Juba, leaving three people dead and others injured.
Riek Bol Mar, a third-year law student at the University of Juba and a teacher at Future High School in Mangateen, was shot dead by his in-laws on Tuesday evening.
The violence escalated when Mr. Riak’s nephew, a soldier, retaliated, resulting in further deaths and injuries.
According to Matik Kueth, a relative of the deceased, the tragic events stemmed from a dispute over late Mr. Riak’s relationship with a young woman, who had been betrothed to another man.
The woman’s family, particularly her maternal uncles, had disapproved of the relationship since 2023, when Mr. Riak and the young woman had a child. Despite his desire to marry her, the family refused their consent, ultimately leading to Mr. Bol eloping with her.
In an interview with this outlet, Kueth recounted the tragedy, stating that his in-laws shot his cousin in the chest twice, which led to his death.
“The incident occurred last night, Tuesday, around 8 PM when my cousin, Riek Bol Mar, was killed by his in-laws. They arrived at Riek’s residence in Gudele and knocked at the gate,” he stated.
“When the gate was opened, the attackers (in-laws) pushed through the smaller door and entered, armed with guns. Upon spotting Riek, they shot him twice in the chest, causing him to fall,” he added.
“We took Riek to the clinic last night, but unfortunately, he did not survive and passed away the same night. We are now preparing for his burial,” he continued.
He said Mr. Riak was rushed to a nearby clinic but succumbed to his injuries.
He revealed that after the shootings, Riek’s nephew, a soldier, ran into the house and grabbed his gun.
“As he emerged, he was also shot in the stomach. He crawled slowly to the edge of the house on the right, then cocked his gun and began shooting back at the attackers,” Kueth explained.
“In the ensuing exchange, he shot the uncle of the girl Riek eloped with, who is a member of parliament in Unity State, killing two of the Honorable’s nephews and wounding two others,” he added.
Mr. Kueth explained that the girl’s family, especially her maternal uncles, disapproved of Riek’s marriage proposal since 2023.
“Riek had impregnated the girl in 2023 and had wanted to marry her but the parents refused.”
He added, “Riek eloped with her despite her family’s disapproval, particularly from her maternal uncles, who did not want Riek to marry their niece.”
The incident highlights, yet another complex social issue surrounding relationships and marriage in South Sudan, and the consequences that can arise from family disputes.