Activist Animu Athiei hospitalized after health deterioration in prison

JUBA — South Sudan youth activist Animu Athiei who was arrested more than one month ago by Juba police over nationality controversy and detained at Juba Central Prison has been hospitalized over deteriorating health situation, a source with direct knowledge from the Juba prison has said.

“This is to inform you that Animu Athiei has been hospitalized because he has health complications which I cannot disclose for some reasons,” the prison official who requested to be named told Sudans Post just now.

Animu was arrested by men in security uniform just before Christmas and has since been detained at the Juba Central Prison for allegedly possessing a diplomatic passport illegally.

She filed a law case against the government of South Sudan in Juba high Court and African commission for Human Rights after her documents, including passport were confiscated.

Last month, the government of South Sudan attempted to deport her to Uganda, but authorities at the Ugandan side in Nimule refused to take her in and said she is not a Ugandan citizen.

Athiei was appointed as an MP for the Revitalized Transitional National Legislative assembly in August last year but her appointment was later revoked on allegation that she is a foreigner.

She has previously been removed from several positions including from the office of then First Vice President Taban Deng Gai over nationality concerns.