Western Bahr El-Ghazal state religious leaders invited state authorities to a meeting in order to be briefed on the incidents last weekend in Wau during which eight people were killed by state security forces.
Live ammunition was used on a group of demonstrators who had been protesting a decision to move the Wau county capital to the town of Baggari. Victims and eyewitnesses have implicated SPLA soldiers in the attacks which left a further 24 injured.
Organized by the Catholic Church and the state’s Islamic Council, the meeting intended to plan a way forward with the government in resolving the crisis.
Western Bahr el-Ghazal’s governor, Rizik Zacharia Hassan, speaking at the meeting welcomed the initiative and shared what has previously been said on the matter in the state’s parliament.
“The issue was a constitutional one and we said that anyone who feels discontented should appeal to the country’s high court.”
The Governor criticised some of the protestors for closing roads and burning trucks.
Meanwhile the state government’s spokesperson, Minister of Information Derik Alfred, on Wednesday announced an investigation into the incident which is to be held by an ad hoc committee headed by the state security adviser.
He noted that police officers were also among the 24 victims due to attacks carried out on their positions by some protestors. Two police officers were killed as a result and their vehicles have reportedly been detained too.
A United Nations delegation headed by deputy representative of the UN Secretary General to South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, has met with state authorities and expressed deep concern over the escalation of the disputes. He confirmed their continued readiness to support developmental projects in the state.
State authorities, as well as the Bishop of Wau, Rudolf Deng Majak and Shiekh Ali Hassan Ali from the Islamic Council, have since confirmed their willingness to work with the protestors, pointing out that problems should not be solved violently but through peaceful dialogue and negotiations.
File photo: An Islamic leader in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal during this year’s Eid celebrations (Radio Tamazuj).