Two SPLA soldiers were sentenced to death by firing squad on Friday for killing two civilians including a woman at Hai Aweil Jedid in Wau town in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal State on 17 July, a municipal official said.

Akol Akol Ajieth, Mayor of the Wau town, told Radio Tamazuj that at least two soldiers in the SPLA Division 5 were sentenced to death by firing squad in the presence of citizens at Girinti military barracks in Wau.

The municipal official pointed out that the order to execute the two SPLA soldiers was issued by the army’s judicial wing in Juba. "The court martial was conducted on Friday, it was an order from the SPLA headquarters to be implemented against those who were involved in the incidents in Wau “said Akol.

 Rights groups and local residents reported recently that the government soldiers killed raped and tortured dozens of civilians in and around Wau town in recent months.