Activist says detention of SPLM-IO official demonstrates ‘restricted’ political space

JUBA – South Sudan Activist Edmund Yakani has condemned yesterday’s brief arrest of senior SPLM-IO official allied to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, saying the actions of security forces contravenes the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

Yesterday, Chairperson of SPLM-IO Youth League Jackson Wani was briefly detained alongside 12 other motorists who were roaming streets of the capital Juba with SPLM-IO blue T-Shirts, sparking outcry among the SPLM-IO membership.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post this morning, Yakani who is the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), a local civil society watchdog, condemned the arrest and said it is a clear demonstration that there is no political space for groups other than the ruling SPLM party.

“CEPO strongly condemns the brief detention of SPLM-IO Youth League leader during the launch of their party in Central Equatoria State. This is a clear demonstration of intended restriction of political space for other parties because in the day in juba SPLM was holding similar event without any restriction such as detention,” Yakani said.

Yakani said the leadership of Central Equatoria State should embrace political tolerance as demonstrate by the deputy governor of Jonglei State who attended the launch of SPLM-IO party headquarters in Jonglei state last week.

“The good example of state leadership that embrace the spirit of the R-ARCSS was the one demonstrated by the Hon. Deputy Governor of Jonglei state during the SPLM-IO state office establishment launch in Bor town. Thanks to the Jonglei state deputy governor for showing political maturity. But similar behaviors are witnessed in some areas that are under SPLM-IO control especially at counties level,” Yakani said.

“CEPO is calling on the top leadership for the SPLM and SPLM-IO to ensure that their subordinates respect the practice of political dialogue without any form of restriction. The security and defense wings of both parties should stop interference with political engagement of their political counters,” he added.

Yakani further said that CEPO “will be releasing civic space watch report soon to show how much some political parties are abusing state authorities powers for controlling civic space.”