Family, state debunk viral torture claim involving Bol Mel supporter

AWEIL – The Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Government has dismissed as false allegations that a man identified as Wieu Yel was castrated by security operatives after demanding the release of former Vice President Bol Mel during President Salva Kiir’s recent visit to the Greater Bahr el Ghazal region, saying its investigation found no evidence to support the claims.

The allegations made by Yel last week sparked widespread outrage after he claimed he and five others were detained and tortured for carrying placards demanding the release of Bol Mel, who has been in detention for more than one year.

Yel alleged that the abuse left him with injuries to his genitals, prompting calls for an independent investigation and accountability.

However, at a press conference in Aweil on Friday, state officials said medical examinations and their own investigation found the claims to be unsubstantiated.

In a dramatic turn, Yel’s father, Yel Deng, publicly rejected his son’s account, describing him as someone with a history of fabricating stories to attract public sympathy.

“I would like to make it clear that this is not the first time my son has falsely claimed that he was castrated. It is not true. He is safe,” Deng told reporters.

He said the family had received no information that Yel had been detained or participated in demonstrations calling for Bol Mel’s release.

Deng further alleged that his son had previously spread false information online, including claiming that his father had died in an attempt to solicit financial assistance from well-wishers.

He urged the public to disregard the allegations and said doctors who examined his son found no evidence that he had been castrated.

According to Deng, medical personnel concluded that the injuries observed on Yel’s testicles appeared recent and were inconsistent with the timeline of the alleged detention.

Acting State Information Minister Bol Akuar Gamar said the investigation established that Yel had not suffered the injuries he claimed and accused him of making false allegations that unfairly tarnished the image of the state government.

“The young man, Wieu Yel, was not harmed in the manner he claimed. The allegations that he and five other youths were subjected to arbitrary treatment were false accusations intended to smear the state government,” Gamar said.

He urged young people to exercise restraint when sharing allegations on social media, saying misinformation could inflame public tensions.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal Security Director Deng Santino Teng also defended the conduct of the state’s security agencies, saying records from detention facilities did not support Yel’s claims.

“I reviewed the list of detainees, and his name was not there. We investigated thoroughly because if any security officer had committed such an act, we would have ensured they were brought before the law. We found no evidence that this happened,” Teng said.

He warned that making unfounded accusations against security institutions could expose individuals to legal consequences.

Despite the government’s findings, questions remain among some members of the public over the handling of the press conference, where Yel was present but was not allowed to address journalists or respond to the conclusions presented by state officials.