The local authorities in Wau County in South Sudan’s Western Bahr al Ghazal State have confirmed that SPLA soldiers were responsible for the killing of two people in Farajallah area on Saturday but they said the men were killed supposedly for being 'rebels'.

The newly appointed commissioner of Wau County Anthony Fada told Radio Tamazuj the two men were killed shot dead by SPLA soldiers when trying to join rebels. He said a civilian and a policeman tried cross into a rebel-held area in the state, prompting the SPLA forces to shoot them.

This statement comes after Radio Tamazuj reported two dead bodies were found on Saturday at Farajallah area. Multiple sources suggested involvement of military forces in the incident.

On Monday, the chief of the Farajallah area said that he heard of the incident after returning back to the area from Wau town. He pointed out that he was informed by the military in the area that they opened fire on two suspected criminals. One died on the spot while the other was injured and ran away.