Several girls including a female aid worker from South Sudan have been assaulted and beaten by police forces in the market area of Wau town in Western Bahr El Ghazal. The police claims that wearing trousers is nowadays forbidden for women in Wau.
South Sudan separated from Sudan to avoid the Islamic sharia law with strict dress code for women. Wau has been a garrison town for decades for the Sudan Armed Forces and has the largest catholic church in South Sudan. Some expatriates tried to intervene to avoid the arrest of the female NGO worker, but they were chased away by security forces.
Other national staff members intervened and managed to secure her release. The incident took place last Sunday, 1 December, at about 14:45 and seems part of a campaign that has started last week.
The Sunday arrest of young girls and boys was badly criticized by citizens. After the release of some youngsters without charges, they were sent home after their clothes were cut into pieces.The Gurtong website quoted several officials: “Police, SPLA, Fire brigade, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have officially banned disco plays at homes without license from the police,” said town mayor Arkangelo Anyar.
He threatened that everyone organizing discos will face a fine of 1,000 South Sudanese Pounds or three months imprisonment. Anyar calls on parents to advise their children to adopt good cultural values and respect themselves. The state police commissioner Major general Akot Deng Akot said the act was an authorization from the town municipal council”. The commissioner says that Wau town is preparing to celebrate Christmas in a serene way.
Map: Western Bahr El Ghazal