South Sudan vice-president's bodyguards shot dead

Six bodyguards of James Wani Igga, the South Sudan's vice-president, were shot dead and two others wounded after gunmen ambushed their convoy on Wednesday evening.

Confirming the incident on Thursday, Kalisto Lado, the spokesman of the vice-president, said the incident took place in Lobonok, the home village of the vice-president, south of the capital Juba.

Lado said the convoy was travelling from the residence of the vice-president heading to Karpeto, a nearby village, when it was ambushed by National Salvation Front forces, Xinhua reported.

The vice-president was not in the convoy. Igga, who is in charge of economic affairs, is one of the five vice-presidents in the country.

The National Salvation Front is a militant group fighting against the government around South Sudan in Central and Western Equatorial State.

South Sudan has been experiencing ethnic and political violence for years, despite the international support for state-building and peacekeeping.