Former Wau county commissioner, John Peter Miskin, was released by courts in Wau, Western Bahr el–Ghazal yesterday, having been detained for approximately 5 months over charges of incitement of violence which left at least 12 dead in the town last December.

The defendant’s lawyer, Kur Lual Kur, reported that the judge ordered Miskin’s due to a lack of evidence against the former official.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, Kur noted that “Today the 18^th was the final court session in the case of the defendant John Peter Miskin. The court ordered for his release because the prosecution wasn’t able to provide ... evidence on the charges of incitement.  When the court reviewed all the files attached to the charges they didn’t find any evidence against the defendant, so the court ordered for his release and he is now enjoying his life as normal.”

It’s noted that Miskin was being held under ten different charges including incitement of violence against the state government, provision of false information and manipulation of the general public, amongst others.

Until recently, a group of 24 had been detained without trial or legal proceedings and had endured almost 10 days of hunger strike as part of their demand for due process.

The clashes took place last December following protests over the move of Wau county’s headquarters to the town of Baggari.  At least 12 were killed in the violence which shut down much of the town, while many more were injured.

Photo: Former Commissioner John Peter Miskin speaking to Radio Tamazuj after his resignation in October 2012, Wau, Western Bahr al-Ghazal.

Related: Wau trials begin for ex-commissioner, youths (28 February 2013)