W. Bahr El Ghazal State Government on the Wau County issue

Republic of South Sudan

Press Release

The Government of Western Bahr El Ghazal State, is following carefully and closely the security development in the state after the last incident of the weekend on Saturday and Sunday December 8th -9th, 2012 and aftermath. It would like to inform the citizens that the situation is under control as well as sending the following messages to the citizens:

• The government with deep sorrow and heartbroken sends its sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the incidents.

• The government is aware of information about some groups of the people carrying guns illegally and causing insecurity: detaining of innocent civilians and causing deaths to others outside Wau town; therefore the government is collecting this kind of information, making security investigation to bring all who caused those incidents into justice and fair trial, because there is no connection between these incidents and the transfer of Wau County Headquarters to Baggari.

• The people who are concerned about the transfer of Wau County Headquarters to Baggari, should focus their case in a peaceful manner and shall not divert it to other political issues and use of violence or sabotage leading into lives loses, properties damages, or looting causing in security in the state. Nobody should carry the law in his/her hands.

• Carrying guns illegally is prohibited as stated in the National Transitional Constitution of Republic of South Sudan 2011, under the article 151, paragraph (3) reads as: “No person or persons should raise any armed or paramilitary force in South Sudan except in accordance with this constitution and the law”. People carrying guns illegally are asked to surrender their guns to the authorities immediately; otherwise they will face the law.

• The government asks all the citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities.

• All the government employees of Western Bahr El Ghazal working in the civil service and organized forces (Police, Prison, Wild Life, and Civil Defense) should immediately report to their place of work within the coming 24 hours. Those who do not turn up to their work places shall be held accountable.

• The government is appealing to all the citizens of Western Bahr El Ghazal to remain calm and to work for the welfare of the state and not to allow others with different agendas to drive the state into tribal conflicts.

• Different committees have been formed by the government to investigate into all that took place, with the aims of establishing facts findings for justice, truth and reconciliation.

The WBGS government is requesting all the citizens to work sincerely to quench down tensions and bring the state into maintaining peace, tranquility and stability.

Council of Ministers

December 13, 2012.