Biar will face US laws on arms charges – Makuei

JUBA — South Sudanese opposition leader and activist, Peter Biar Ajak, will face US laws over alleged illegal arms dealing, the country’s information minister, Michael Makuei, said on Friday.

Ajak was charged in a US court on March 5 alongside another South Sudanese national, Abraham Chol Keech. They stand accused of planning to buy automatic rifles, grenade launchers, Stinger missile systems, hand grenades and other export-controlled items and illegally smuggle them into South Sudan.

Both US laws and a UN Security Council arms embargo, imposed in 2018 and since renewed, prohibit weapons sales to South Sudan.

Makuei, also the government spokesperson, said Ajak and Keech are US citizens and their alleged actions have no bearing on South Sudan.

“Mr. Biar and his colleagues are American nationals; they acquired American nationality and whatever offence they committed over there are offences to do with them in America,” Makuei told reporters on Friday.

He added that South Sudan could not comment on the case as Ajak is now a US citizen.

“He is a South Sudanese, we don’t deny him but at present, he committed an offence as an American citizen and American law will deal with him accordingly. The government of South Sudan has no comment because at present, he is an American citizen and he has to face the law in America.”

Makuei said he believes the weapons purchase was intended to fight the South Sudanese government.