Ex-Juba Mayor Kalisto Lado released by NSS after death rumors

JUBA – South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) on Friday afternoon released former mayor of the Juba City, Kalisto Lado, who had been detained arbitrarily for more than five months, his lawyer Wani Santino Jada said.

“This is to confirm that our client Kalisto Lado has been released by the National Security Service. What I have written on social media is true and we are not going to give further information to the media until we settle without client,” he told Sudans Post.

His detention comes just two days after social media rumors circulated that Kalisto had died in NSS jail in Juba. The rumors suggested that the former Juba mayor died while being denied treatment by the NSS.

Lado was arrested by the NSS on March 30, 2024, under unclear circumstances. While the police authorities confirmed his detention, they were unable to give an explanation as to why the former Mayor was arrested.

Prior to his detention, Lado spoke publicly against land grabbing in and around the country’s capital Juba.

The government, following his detention, charged Lado with crimes including conspiracy, subverting a constitutional government, and supplying weaponry to insurgents, bandits, and saboteurs for terrorism.

The other charges were possession of dangerous weapons and publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to South Sudan.

In a statement, South Sudan’s civil society watchdog Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed Lado’s release and praised those who helped advocate for the release of the former mayor.

“This is a positive response for our few days lobby and advocacy when we were misinformed that he is dead already. This morning, we issued a voice message via eye radio demanding an explanation from the authorities then we are informed by this afternoon good news,” said Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director of CEPO.

“Thanks to all leaders that made his release possible. We are urging the government to hold those behind his arbitrary arrest held accountable. Respect for human rights and upholding of rule of law should not be compromise with. Nobody is above the law,” he stressed.

Commenting on previous rumors of Lado’s death, Yakani said that “those who are providing fake new information and misinformation should get a shame now. Hostile propaganda is the enemy of peace and stability.”

He called on “all South Sudanese to abstain from all forms of hate speech, hostile propaganda, and misinformation and disinformation. We are urging the government to ensure Kalisto health is cared for.”