2 killed, 10 being detained in Jur River County over alleged links with Malong

JUBA – South Sudan security forces in Jur River County of Western Bahr el Ghazal state in August killed at least two people and detained ten others over allegations that they were working for General Paul Malong Awan’s rebel group, according to a senior state government official.

The official who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal said operatives from the National Security Service and South Sudan People’s Defense Forces stormed Udici Payam headquarters in mid-August arresting at least twelve people including the Payam director, a police officer and traditional chiefs.

The official said the security forces accused prominent community members of mobilizing and recruiting locals into the rank and file of South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by Malong, a former army chief who resorted to rebellion after dismissal from his position by President Kiir in 2017.

“The National Security Services and military intelligence operatives arrested 12 people in the middle of August 2022 including some local government officials in Udici Payam of Jur River county in Western Bahr el Ghazal state,” the official told Sudans Post on phone from Wau on Thursday afternoon.

“The 12 people were arrested on the grounds that they were mobilizing and recruiting locals to join forces of the rebel group under General Paul Malong,” he added.

The official further revealed that 2 of the 12 people were then killed almost immediately after the arrest and no one was being allowed from among the community to visit the detainees amid speculations that they might have been transferred to Tonj of Warrap state.

“Two of them have been killed a day after they were arrested by the national security and military intelligence services while the remaining ten people are still being detained at a military base in Jur River,” he added.