President Kiir fires Wau state governor
June 24, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese President, Salva Kiir, has issued a decree, relieving governor Elia Waya of the newly created Wau state [Western Bahr el Ghazal] state.
He is replaced with Andrea Mayan as the new governor of Wau state.
There have been media reports of increased insecurity incidences during which at least 8 people have been killed in Wau in separate incidents this week.
The incidences followed a brief capture of Raja town, the capital of another neighbouring Lol state, by unknown gunmen who killed dozens of soldiers of the South Sudanese army (SPLA), including 7 personal bodyguards of the governor, Rizik Zechariah Hassan.
The new governor Andrea Mayar was a former Western Bahr el Ghazal State Speaker since 2005.
Waya is the first of the 28 new governors to be sacked from his position.
STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED
South Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) forces have declared the state of emergency in Wau over fears of further deterioration of the security situation there without informing the State Government; Governor Elias Waya told Sudan Tribune on Thursday evening upon his arrival in capital Juba and before his removal.
According to Governor Waya, the declaration of the state of emergency comes following the killing of two SPLA soldiers on Wednesday morning, in the western part of the town by unknown gunmen, and the recent overrun of the neighbouring Raja town the capital of Lol state by un identified armed group.
“I have just finished my meeting with the security committee, only that the army come late and the operation brigadier general come with a message that they have put their forces at the maximum alert because the rebels are attacking inside Wau. All who are here are rebels, so the Division five SPLA is ready and even those who are just walking around are ready,” the governor said.
Waya admitted that the state of security breakdown started last week when a civilian was looted with five motorcycles and killed by armed men in military fatigue.
The death toll incidents in Wau from last week until Thursday morning reached at least eight people. However Waya did not clearly name those involved in the attacks. Nonetheless, he said army SPLA elements were also seen looting in the town.
(ST)