For three days in a row last week, hundreds of students in Wau demonstrated against huge cuts in teachers' salaries. The Government of Western Bahr el-Ghazal State, consequently, ordered the closure of all government schools in Wau Town for two weeks.

Students of Al-Salam Secondary School came out Thursday morning in protest and were joined by students of John Paul Secondary School.

According to County Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Ngberende, police dispersed hundreds of students who tried to attack at a Market place called Hay Suk Al-Jow and the Ministry of Finance, inflicting minor damage to one private shop.

On 12 August, opposing huge cuts of teachers' salaries rose from 20% to 40%, hundreds of students demonstrated in the town.

The first day protest ended peacefully, but the second day (13 August) was more violent resulting in property damage and the arrest of 29 students by the local police.. Protesters entered the premises of the State Ministry of Education and destroyed a number of computers, two motor bikes and one vehicle belonging to the Women Development Group. The arrested students were interrogated at the Criminal Investigation Department in Wau.

The State Minister of Education in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Colonel Valentine Yak Kon said that the issue of teachers' salaries has reached the GoSS Ministry of Education in Juba and that it is expected to provide a final solution soon.

Lel. Colonel Mohamed Abdul Rasoul, Acting Sector Commander for the United Nations' deployed Police unit in the area, said that the situation raises some concerns. "The security situation of Wau is our priority," he said.

"The local police are intervening to stop the protest and we are observing the situation closely," he added.

According to County Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Ngberende, currently there are about 32,000 students in Wau.

See also the follow-up story: Schools reopen in Wau Town after two weeks of closure