Two South Sudanese soldiers executed in Wau

July 23, 2016 (WAU) – South Sudan army’s (SPLA) 5th division in Western Bahr el Ghazal state on Friday executed two soldiers charged with murder and various crimes.

The duo were arrested on 17 July and kept at Wau central prison after for allegedly murdering a couple at a residential area situated within Wau town.

They faced firing squad in front of a military parade at the army division headquarters. Hundreds of Wau residents also witnessed it.

Wau town mayor, Akol Akol Ajith, said the two soldiers were sentenced to death after the military high court found them guilty.

“The order to execute these soldiers comes from above and this is what will warn the soldiers from involving in such crimes,” said Akol.

No one, according to the town mayor, is above the stipulated laws.

A military judge cautioned soldiers against violating army regulations.

“This is a warning to those soldiers who used to violet the military regulation, it is also what tell the people of South Sudan that any soldier found committing crime against civilian should be deal with,”a judge, who preferred anonymity said on Friday.

This is the first such an execution has taken place at the army’s 5th division headquarters in Western Bahr el Ghazal state over the years.

(ST)