A large number of conflict-displaced people around Wau town in South Sudan’s Western Bahr al Ghazal State have downplayed the importance of an investigation committee recently formed by the national government in Juba.

In interviews conducted by Radio Tamazuj, several displaced families instead demanded the formation of an international committee to investigate the violence which took place in Wau town recently.

“If there should be a committee, it shouldn’t comprise of our people here only, the international community should intervene to solve the problem as soon as possible,” said a displaced woman.

“We South Sudanese only, this problem will not be solved, because this problem is clear, it is discrimination,” she added. “We as Fertit, we are left with nothing, if we are told to solve this problem, still we will not and all sides will finish, because Dinka are controlling everything.”

Several interviewees said the recently formed government body will be like previous committees formed to investigate the 2012 incident. South Sudan's government has also formed investigation committees to look into alleged atrocities in Juba and Malakal, but the findings of those committees were not made public and no action was taken upon them.

Separately, the internally displaced people said they were experiencing harsh humanitarian conditions due to lack of food and services outside Wau town.

“You would not believe the situation in which we are, we are eating leaves of tree, there is no water, children are sick, children have died, elderly people also died and women gave birth during rains,” said one of displaced people. 

Photo: Civilians displaced by violence in Wau, 26 June 2016 (UNMISS)