Western Bahr el-Ghazal State police spokesperson Maj Santino Oduol said five people were killed in Wau during a protest targeting Sudanese nationals over the killing of South Sudanese in Wad-Medani, Al- Jazirah State, by Sudanese army forces.
Those killed were three Sudanese nationals and two South Sudanese, he said, adding that the police had restored order.
“The situation remains calm without any criminal incidents reported within the three counties and within the jurisdiction of the Wau Municipal Council in Western Bahr el-Ghazal State,” said Oduol.
“However, it is with great sorrow that we reported the loss of five lives and critical injuries to 18 individuals on Friday. Among the injure are four Sudanese and 12 South Sudanese, including a police private, Nyandeng Majok Deng, who is currently undergoing treatment,” he said.
Two police personnel were also injured and were receiving medical care at the Wau main teaching hospital.
Oduol said 348 Sudanese nationals had taken refuge at the police headquarters in Wau, while 1,800 were at the national security premises.
“We have 348 Sudanese nationals at the police headquarters and 1,800 at the national security headquarters, totaling, 2,148,” he said.
The police spokesperson said that some shops were looted on Friday night but the police and other forces managed to protect the Wau main and Jou markets.
“Our forces managed to protect the Wau main market and Jou market. Some shops were looted in Suq Hajar at night, but our forces managed to apprehend 40 youth involved in looting,” he said.
“They are currently at the Wau police station awaiting trial,” he added.
Oduol dismissed the allegations on the social media that there were 45 youth detained in a container, describing it as a propaganda attempting to tarnish the image of the security agents.
“This is a propaganda just meant to damage the image of our personnel. There are no youth taken into a container. We captured those who were looting at Suq Hajar and they were put into the prison service truck to be taken to Wau police station,” he narrated.
The police said the security agents were monitoring the situation to prevent any escalation.
He also said the security committee was today in a closed-door meeting to find the ways forward to reopen the shops.
Western Bahr el-Ghazal State Coordinator for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Stephen Musa Robo condemned the incident and called on the state authorities to act against those involved in the killings on Friday.
“What happened is unfortunate and we condemn the acts of violence in the state and beyond. We understand that the South Sudanese are so disappointed with what happened in Sudan,” said Robo.
“That was not the right procedure to claim our right. We cannot pay back revenge with a revenge since the state government has taken responsibility. There is already communication going on, the national government and the international community have taken the matter with a slap of sanctions on Sudan,” he said.
Robo said the international community already took a decision and an investigation community had been formed.
He called on the South Sudanese to control their anger, describing what happened in Sudan as a criminal activity that the state authorities needed to take seriously.
“Those who were involved in these criminal activities should be brought to book. This is not how things are handled because we have now seen the impact. Most shops are closed and there is a looming hunger in the town,” he added.