South Sudan peacebuilding minister Stephen Phar Kuol released after detention

JUBA – South Sudan’s peace-building minister, Stephen Par Kuol, was released by the National Security Service (NSS) early Friday, a day after his detention, a spokesman for the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) said.

Par, who also serves as secretary general of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), and three staff members were arrested and detained on Thursday afternoon by the NSS under unclear circumstances.

“We would like to inform SPLM-IO members and the public at large that Hon. Stephen Par Kuol… was released this morning at 05:00 am,” said Puok Both Baluang, acting spokesman for First Vice President Riek Machar, in a statement.

The SPLM-IO described the detention as “unlawful” but did not disclose the reasons for the arrest.

The government and NSS have not released official statements regarding the detention or release.

Par’s release follows recent arrests of other SPLM-IO members, including Gabriel Duop Lam, deputy chief of defense forces of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and chief of staff of the SPLA-IO, amid tensions between local youth and the SSPDF in Nasir.

The arrests, including that of Puot Kang Chuol on Wednesday morning, have raised concerns about political tensions within the unity government formed under the 2018 peace agreement.

The SPLM-IO has previously raised concerns about harassment and arrests of its officials, accusing elements within the government of undermining the peace process.