South Sudan is investigating army’s killing of 10 protestors
By Godfrey Olukya 14-12-2012
The government of South Sudan has ordered for investigations into the killing of ten people who were protesting peacefully.
The protesters were angered by the state government decision to transfer Wau county headquarters them from Wau town to Baggari.
South Sudan’s Parliament has formed an 11 man committee to investigate the killing of civilians during protests in Wau, Western Bhar al Ghazal State over the weekend.
At least 10 protestors died and over twenty injured when the army attempted to stop the protests against the relocation of Wau County Head Quarters. The soldiers opened gunfire and killed 10 protestors.
The 11-member committee is expected to report on the killings within one week. The Parliament has also summoned the area governor Rizik Zacheria to explain the circumstances surrounding the protests.
A high level government delegation is expected to visit Wau in the aftermath of the protests.
Interior minister, Alison Manani Magaya said, ‘The situation is under control. Investigation is being carried out to identify what happened and if some people are found guilty, action will be taken against them.’
Meanwhile, The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has launched an independent investigation into the protests in Wau, in which the ten died.
‘UNMISS has been using its staff on the ground in Wau to investigate and to try and establish the facts around what happened over the weekend. ‘the Chief of the Mission’s Public information Office, Liam McDowall told the press.
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