The Director of Wau Central Prison in Western Bahr el Ghazal State has said prison cells in the state are overcrowded, with hundreds of inmates on remand awaiting trial and several others on death row.
Maj. General Pidele Majok told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the inmates are mainly at Wau Central Prison, Juvenile Reformatory Center, Marial Bai site, and Raja County.
He said there are 1,025 inmates across the state, with 146 on death row awaiting execution.
“Wau Prison is composed of three categories: Wau Central Prison, Wau Juvenile, and Marial Bai cells. These cells are very congested, and as I am talking to you, we have 1,025 inmates in Raja and in Wau Town,” he said. “288 have been remanded and are awaiting trial. I have divided the prisons into two main prisons, one in Marial Bai accommodating one hundred inmates currently, and the others in Wau Central Prison.”
He said congestion is due to the transfer of inmates from Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Lakes states.
“Western Bahr el Ghazal State prisons are very congested because many criminal cases are coming from Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Lakes states, especially the group on death row,” he explained. “I have 146 condemned prisoners in this main prison, not going anywhere but being kept here, waiting for their day.”
Gen. Majok urges the establishment of mobile courts to expedite the hearing of cases of those on remand.
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