South Sudan: Opposition Leaders, Others, Detained
South Sudanese Human Rights Watch said today that authorities have arrested at least 22 political and military personnel after violent clashes began in mid-February 2025. These recent developments have put the country in a political crisis.
“The lack of transparency and legitimate concern about the legitimacy of arresting and detaining opposition leaders and other fuel insecure areas that would otherwise be vulnerable.” nyagoah tut pura researcher at South Sudan Human Rights Watch. “The authorities should immediately reveal the fate and whereabouts of the detainees and ensure their due process rights, including before bringing them to a properly constituted and impartial court.”
The people arrested since March 4 are in line with Riek Machar, the first vice president of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA-IO). The timing of these detentions coincides with the political crisis in Nasir, Up the Nile, where a clash between government forces and armed young militias, also known as white troops Displaced civilians. The region is a supporter of Machar, who has long opposed President Kiel.
The South Sudanese government should end immediately Enforced disappearance Human Rights Watch said, or detention for everyone who has been linked to the opposition, they have been detained since the first week of March and ensure that their due process rights are fully strict respected.
On March 4, military authorities arrested and detained Lieutenant Gabriel Duop Lam, deputy chief of staff of the United Army Buildings, who also served as acting chief of staff for SPLA-IO. Officials also removed five bodyguards and detained his bodyguards, a reliable source said. The whereabouts of the six people are unknown. Detention or other deprivation of personal freedom, subsequent refusal to admit detention or reveal the fate or whereabouts of a person deprived of his liberty, constitutes Enforced disappearance Under international law, under any circumstances, a crime is absolutely prohibited.
An incredible witness said on March 5, at 2 a.m., an armed National Security Agency (NSS) official picked up oil minister Puot Kang Chol from his home in Juba, along with at least seven people, without explanation and drove him away. Seven include: a friend, Camillo Gatmach; bodyguard Nelson Malou, Kun Tut, Peter Magong; and three family members Koang Puk, Biluny Puk and Buay Thiechuong. A credible witness said NSS officials initially arrested Chol with one of his bodyguards around 11 p.m. on March 4 but brought him back.
The eight men were initially held in the NSS Riverside (operating) facility and then moved to the NSS headquarters (also known as the Blue House), credible sources said.
On March 6, the NSS arrested Deputy Inspector General Thomas Jal Thomas and his deputy James Duop Gatleak in his office and took him to a Riverside detention site, but released them a few hours later.
One witness said that on the same day, 11 armed NSS officials joined Stephen Par Kuol, the Minister of Peacebuilding, from his office with three employees. They tied them with other armed men into two Landcruiser pickup trucks and drove away. Four men are issued Early morning on March 7th.
Also on March 6, NSS officials arrested and detained SPLA-OIO member Mam Pal Dhuor at Juba International Airport, who tried to board a flight to Kampala, a credible source said.
Meanwhile, Nasir’s situation worsened. March 7, armed personnel Attacked the joint helicopter To rescue the injured soldiers in Nasir, one crew member was killed and two others were injured. President Kiel also announced that a well-known Army General Majur Dak and 27 other evacuated soldiers were also killed During the attack.
On the same day, the army issued a circle, which was observed by Human Rights Watch to deploy troops at the junction of six major roads to and from the capital Juba. Heavy deploy Riek Machar’s residence was obviously in progress at night.
Riek Machar spokesman Baluang told Human Rights Watch that as of March 10, they knew of 22 men related to SPLA-IO – including party members, employees, families, families and bodyguards, were detained by NSS and military intelligence, many fates or fates or the fate of Wheelerbut or Whereabouts are not yet known.
media Report Gatwech Lam Puoch, a SPLA-IO member of Nasir County Council, was arrested on March 11 and detained in the Blue Palace.
NSS and Army spokespersons did not respond to requests for comment. In a press conference on March 5, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth, explain“If someone is arrested, there is a reason.” An NSS spokesman announced on March 8 that after extensive “intelligence” the person who had been arrested “verified contacts with the situation in Nasir, Ulang and the surrounding areas” had been arrested and promised More arrests.
this National Security Agency Operate with limited legal and judicial oversight and de facto impunity. The service is responsible for enforcing disappearances, as well as unpublic detention, torture, and ill-treatment of detainees. It also illegally monitored.
this The government should modify the definition of “crime against states” and remove security services Human Rights Watch said it is necessary to arrest and detain people, limit their power to search, seize and monitor and align them with constitutional and international human rights standards.
The government has used it in the past Prosecuted Crimes involving treason, publishing false information and insulting the president to limit freedom of speech, assembly and associations, e.g. Peace movement Political opposition or public criticism of national policies and actions. Prosecution and trial damage Human rights violations and political intervention.
The government should immediately disclose the reasons and evidence for the recent arrest. All detainees should be brought immediately before an independent judge to examine the legality of the arrest and to determine whether they should be released or whether legal detention can be continued.
The international community, including the United Nations, the African Union and intergovernmental development agencies, should urge the South Sudanese authorities to safeguard human rights, including the direct termination of any and all persons. Enforced disappearance Human Rights Watch said detainees were brought to court.
“South Sudanese authorities should cease arbitrary detention and other harassment of opposition members, rather than using security agencies as tools of oppression,” Poole said. “International and regional actors like the African Union should insist that authorities adhere to their human rights obligations in seeking to alleviate political tensions.”
Published by Apo Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).
