CEPO condemns arrest of medical worker by Agwelek at Malakal POC

JUBA, OCTOBER 29, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s civil society watchdog Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has condemned last week’s kidnapping of a medical worker at Malakal POC by the SPLM-IO Kitgwang Agwelek faction.

On Sunday last week, security operatives belonging to the Agwelek faction led by General Johnson Olony kidnapped Emmanuel Obayi, a nutrition officer working with the International Medical Corps (IMC), over claims that he has ties with the leader of National Democratic Movement (NDM) Lam Akol Ajawin.

Family members and friends told Sudans Post yesterday that they have reported the case to the police in the Upper Nile State’s capital and that their son and friend was being held at Wau Shilluk where the opposition faction has a base.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, CEPO’s Executive Director condemned the arrest and targeting of humanitarian workers and called on the government and all parties in the country to cease from committing acts that violates rights of individuals.

“I would like to take this opportunity to strongly condemn the act of targeting humanitarian workers,” Yakani said in the statement. “I would like to take this opportunity with due respect and honor to appeal to General Johnson alone that Agwelek forces should release Emmanuel Obayi and for him to perform his humanitarian assistance to our vulnerable population.”

He called on the government to “investigate the kidnapping of the humanitarian worker from Malakal POC by the Agwelek forces. But then this action tells us that the POC is no longer a safe location for humanitarian workers, and this is very terrible.”

“I would like to appeal to the government that Agwelek forces are now part and parcel of the government. They should not target people, and they should not use Malakal POC for proxy wars or for any political motivated agenda,” Yakani added.

“This is very bad and targeting POC as a site of protection of civilians or a site where IDPs are residing, this action is not allowed by international law and even is against the UN guidelines for protection and promotion of rights of internally displaced persons.”