High-ranking SSPDF officer tortured to death at army detention cell in Yei

JUBA – A senior military officer belonging to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) was on Saturday morning found dead in his SSPDF detention cell, three days after he was arrested while on a family visit to Yei River County of Central Equatoria state.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Saturday, a family member who requested not to be named said Lt. Col Yuma Sebastian, a former nationalist singer, was deployed to Kapoeta County in Eastern Equatoria state and was on a family visit in Yei where his arrest and subsequent detention occurred.

“He was deployed and continued to work there since then,” the family member said on condition of anonymity. “So when this incident occurred, he came to Yei to just visit the family and now after arrest three days on he is dead in detention at the military barrack.”

In a statement, Yei County Commissioner Aggrey Cyrus Kanyikwa, confirmed Lt. Col Yuma’s demise inside a military facility in Yei and said he was arrested in Yei by the military to answer questions such as why he left his assignment without permission.

“With deep sorry, I want take this opportunity to convey my heartfelt condolences to the people of Yei, family and friends of Lt Col Yuma Sebastian for the unfortunate death of Lt Col Yuma Sebastian who died in a detention facility in the Military Baracks of Yei this morning,” Commissioner Aggrey said.

“Late Lt. Col Yuma Sebastian died upon his detention to answer questions of his coming to Yei from Camp 15 without permission and without a Departure Order. His detention occurred on 11^th August, 2022 and he was found dead this morning at 5 am in the detention shell,” he added.

The commissioner said more details regarding his death haven’t yet occurred and urged the people and the family to remain calm.

“More details of his death are yet to be provided by the Brigade Commander as investigations are going on,” he said.

“I urge the people of Yei to be calm as they mourn their loved one and ensure that the cause of justice shall be pursued accordingly. I trust that the SSPDF shall do their best to address such incidences not to happen again,” he added.

‘TORTURED TO DEATH”

Speaking to Sudans Post separately, a friend of Lt. Col. Yuma said the military officer appears to have been tortured to death with signs of electric shocks could be seen on his body and urged immediate investigation by the government.

“This is a clear case of a person who has been tortured to death because his body appears like that of someone who has been subjected to electric shocks because his body is full of electric shocks and I believe 99 percent that he has been tortured to death,” the friend said on condition of anonymity.

Another eyewitness also said he had seen wire marks around his neck and stomach, bruises on his chest, a broken jaw.

‘JUSTICE WITHOUT DELAY’

When contacted by Sudans Post, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani welcomed the confirmation of Lt. Col. Yuma’s death in military detention cell and said his death is a clear case of torture and urged for thorough and transparent investigation.

“CEPO welcomes the statement of Yei River county commissioner for confirming that the incident was a case of torture to death. This is serious crime and human rights abuse that requires justice without any delay,” Yakani said.

“The investigation process mentioned by the county commissioner should be done in transparent manner and immediate the investigation findings are executed without any delay. We have seen how the state authorities normally use strategy of investigation for undermining call for justice with the example of recent incident in Kajokeji,” Yakani further added.

The outspoken activist further called on the army chief to personally “act urgently and ensure military justice taken necessary legal steps with fully observation of the due legal process for making justice prevail.”