The chairman of the ruling SPLM party in South Sudan's Wau has called for the SPLA to stop violence against civilians and to withdraw its troops from the city's suburbs.

Mark Nyipuoc Obang requested the newly appointed governor of Wau pull out the SPLA forces who have been accused of killing, looting, and displacing civilians, as well as burning houses.

“I convey to your Excellency the request and the petition by the citizens in the area to withdraw the SPLA troops that were brought from Northern Bahr al Ghazal during Christmas holidays,” Nyipuoc reportedly said at a meeting at SPLM House in Wau on Wednesday morning.

Mark advised the new governor to put a halt to violence against citizens living in the Wau suburbs.

Over 2,000 civilians have recently fled their homes after attacks by SPLA forces in several villages outside Wau.

Radio Tamazuj earlier reported that SPLA troops blocked United Nations peacekeepers and human rights monitors from accessing affected populations outside Wau.

Related:

Over 2000 civilians displaced by SPLA attacks near Wau (8 Jan.)

SPLA accused of killing and burning homes near Wau (7 Jan.)

SPLA spokesman denies aerial bombing in Wau county (8 Dec.)

UN says clashes in Wau County violate ceasefire (8 Dec.)

Wau authorities arrest 7 civil society activists who protested abuses by security forces (30 Nov.)