Four inmates die at Wau’s central prison

October 20, 2014 (WAU) – At least four inmates in Wau central prison in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state have reportedly died.

“The inmates’ conditions are deteriorating at Wau central prison due to overcrowding,” the officer said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

He said temperatures inside the prison cells often reach dangerously high levels and inmates are often forced to sleep on the bare floor without bedding.

According to the officer, a number of male prisoners were transferred to another facility in Western Equatoria’s Raga county last year, but conditions there were also poor.

Wau’s central prison director declined to comment on the matter or verify how the four men died when contacted by Sudan Tribune.

He claimed that the central prison in the state is not authorized to speak to the media without directives from from the Juba headquarters.

Wau central prison also houses prisoners from a number of neighbouring states, including many who are on death row.

(ST)