SPLM-IO leader and colleagues arrested by security forces in Warrap

KUAJOK – South Sudan security forces detained several senior members of the SPLM-IO in Warrap State’s capital, Kuajok, on Tuesday morning, including the speaker of the state parliament, Kuech Deng Mayar.

Dut Majokdit, a member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council (NLC), confirmed to Sudans Post that security personnel from the National Security Service (NSS), South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), and local police raided the parliament building at approximately 11:30 AM.

Among those arrested were Mayar, who also serves as the chairman of the main armed opposition group SPLM-IO in Warrap, along with John Deng Kok, the gubernatorial legal advisor, and Thiony Majok, the SPLM-IO spokesman in the state, who also holds a seat in parliament.

The officials were taken to an undisclosed location.

“The security forces arrived at 11:30 and arrested the speaker of parliament, Kuech Deng Mayar alongside Hon. John Deng Kok, governor’s advisor on legal affairs, and Thiony Majok, SPLM-IO spokesman in Warrap State and a member of parliament and took them to undisclosed location,” Majokdit said.

“This is a direct violation of the revitalized peace agreement. We condemn these arbitrary arrests by security forces loyal to the SPLM-IG, and we demand the immediate release of those detained,” he added.

The arrests come amid growing tensions, with SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar currently detained in Juba following his arrest on March 26. Other key opposition figures, including SPLA-IO Chief of Staff Gabriel Duop Lam and Minister of Petroleum Puot Kang Chuol, remain in detention.

Neither the NSS nor the SSPDF provided immediate comment on the matter. Efforts by Sudans Post to contact Warrap State authorities were unsuccessful at the time of publication.