2 gov’t critics to appear in court after more than a year in detention

JUBA – Two South Sudan government critics will on Monday morning be arranged in a special court set up by the country’s chief justice, after more than a year in detention, with civil rights movement People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) calling on the judiciary to set them free.

Former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Kuel Aguer Kuel and ‘Prophet’ Abraham Chol were arrested last year on separate incidents after uttering remarks considered hostile by the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit.

Kuel, 66, who was until then a lecturer of economics at Stratford International University was picked up at a petrol station by men belonging to the National Security Service (NSS) in August 2021 after participating in a memo calling on President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny to resign from the helm.

69-year-old Abraham Chol who is also the head of the Juba-based Cush International Ministries was arrested at his home in July ahead of the independence anniversary when he made a prophecy that the world’s youngest country was going to have a new leader by July that year.

Both men have been accused of sabotages and undermining South Sudan’s constitution.

The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) a group of critics, said in a statement extended to Sudans Post on Sunday that the court hearing of both men will start on Monday.

“The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) informs the people of South Sudan of the scheduled appearance in court of Gov. Kuel Aguer Kuel on Monday the 3rd of October 2022,” the group said in the strong-worded statement.

“Gov. Kuel would have been in jail for 430 days on Monday without formal charges and without being presented in court,” the statement added.

The coalition welcomed the government’s decision to try both men.

“Both are political prisoners and we have campaigned for their release through the period of their illegal detention,” it said.

“Second, while we withhold our opinion on the fairness of the court, we are disturbed by the fact that the Chief Justice agreed to set up a court to try people who have been detained illegally and in violation of the constitution.”

The group said that Kuel’s detention was a violation of Article 24 (1) of the South Sudan Constitution.

The group further stated that “Every citizen shall have the right to the freedom of expression, reception and dissemination of information, publication, and access to the press without prejudice to public order, safety or morals as prescribed by law.”