Fifth Division soldiers of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army under General Salva Kiir (SPLA-Juba) have arrested up to 70 police personnel in Wau as part of an effort to contain by force a strike over unpaid salaries.

A senior police officer said at least 70 members remain missing and he believes they are being held at a military base.

“Until now, our parade is incomplete. We are missing up to 70 personnel, who were on duty on Monday. We don’t know where they are being kept but we believe they are in Grinti. Because this is where we hear some of our colleagues are being held,” said the officer.

He was referring to the military headquarters located north of the town.

The officer said he personally saw soldiers on Monday morning stopping about 30 police officers, including Hassan Gregory, who drives the motorcade of the governor and started beating them immediately before tying their hands to their backs and putting them in a pickup truck.

They drove away in the direction of Grinti.  

Another officer said that before the soldiers withdrew from key positions in the town early on Wednesday he saw them stopping one of his colleagues in uniform at Freedom Square and beat him unconscious before putting him in a vehicle and driving toward the military garrison.

He was later returned to Wau Civil Hospital where he died at around 2:30 in the afternoon.   

“It is unfortunate that comrades in arms are made to turn against their colleagues. I have never experienced this situation myself even during the National Islamic Front,” said the officer, referring to the name taken by Sudan’s ruling party after it seized power in 1989.

Related:

Wau official admits delay of police salaries (5 March)

Shops robbed in Wau in absence of police (4 March)

SPLA-Juba pulls troops from Wau streets after crushing police strike (4 March)

SPLA-Juba takes over Wau streets after deadly police riot (3 March)

Police protest unpaid wages in Wau town (2 March)