The Political Bureau of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the governing party of South Sudan, urged Wau citizens to refrain from further violence and revenge as the unity government tries to resolve the problem.

This comes on Monday evening at a meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir, who doubles as chairman of the SPLM party.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jemma Nunu Kumba, Acting Secretary General of the SPLM party, said the Political Bureau condemned in the strongest terms possible the events that took in Wau and rebel attacks on their positions around the town.

She pointed out that the party leadership urged the unity government to take urgent measures to restore peace and stability in Wau town and its surrounding areas.

Dozens of people were reported killed after fighting spread to Wau town on Monday morning. Several eyewitnesses reported that government-aligned militia were targeting local residents based on their ethnicity in residential areas in Wau.

The violence started after an ambush on Sunday of government forces near Wau, where two senior army generals were killed.

Photo: Jemma Nunun Kumba