South Sudan says 43 people killed in Wau fighting

South Sudan has confirmed that at least 43 people were killed in fighting which begun last week between armed groups and government forces in Wau town in northwest part of the country.

Government spokesman Michael Makuei told Xinhua late on Wednesday that 12,000 civilians have been displaced, sparking a humanitarian crisis in the town.

"So far we have not yet received the number of the casualties in their final figures, but can report that 39 civilians and four policemen have been killed," Makuei said.

The fighting erupted last week after the dismissal of the incumbent Governor of Wau by the President, leading to instability in the town, with fighting breaking out between the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) and youth associated with the opposition.

"Probably the number may rise more than that because these are the bodies that have been found on the ground so far but as the process of cleanup continues, the figure is likely to rise as the situation maybe," Makuei added.

He said the government has formed an eight member high level delegation committee headed by health minister to investigate the situation and come up with the recommendation of what triggered the incident.

"Their duty is to go and find out accurate information from the ground and also talk to the people who are on the run as well as those seeking safety in and outskirts of Wau," the government spokesman said.

The move comes as the new governor was sworn in by President Salva Kiir on Tuesday following the removal of governor on June 24 as an effort to restore tranquility in the State of Wau.

Aid agencies have estimated that 12,000 people have fled to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) peacekeeping base in Wau and are currently sheltering in an area adjacent to the base. Thousands more are displaced in the town in collective centres.

Aid agencies say they are finding difficulties in accessing the affected areas to provide humanitarian aid to the affected people. Endit