Lawmaker, civil society leaders call for Kuel Aguer’s travel amid passport confiscation

JUBA – A South Sudan lawmaker and civil society leaders are urging President Salva Kiir’s government to allow former Northern Bahr el Ghazal governor and civil rights activist Kuel Aguer Kuel to travel abroad for medical treatment.

Kuel, acquitted of charges in December 2022, claims his passport was confiscated by the National Security Service (NSS) at Juba International Airport in March last year, preventing him from seeking medical care in India.

“I am not just restricted, but my passport was confiscated,” Kuel told Sudans Post in an interview on Friday last week. “It is with National Security up to now.”

He explained that a pre-existing condition in his back worsened during his imprisonment and necessitates surgery in India, without which he is threatened with paralysis.

In reaction, member of parliament Juol Nhomngek Daniel condemned the passport confiscation and Kuel’s continued travel restriction in an email to Sudans Post on Wednesday.

“The government must respect the court’s decision,” Daniel said. “He is supposed to be free, yet he is still detained.”

Daniel called for compensation for Kuel’s wrongful detention and argued the travel restriction violates his constitutional rights.

“Confiscating his passport and denying him the right to travel freely is a violation of his constitutional rights to life, health, and freedom of movement,” he stated.

Civil society leaders echoed Daniel’s concerns. Bol Deng Bol, head of INTREPID South Sudan, reminded authorities of Kuel’s right to access medical care and freedom of movement.

“Kuel Aguer is no longer accused of any crime,” Bol said in a statement to Sudans Post today. “He should be allowed to go about within and outside the country.”

Ter Manyang Gatwech, head of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), emphasized South Sudan’s obligation to protect human rights.

“South Sudan as a country has an international and national obligation to promote and protect human rights regardless of their political affiliation, background, sex, color and age,” he said.  “The President should observe those principles.”

Edmund Yakani, prominent South Sudan activist and head of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, called Kuel’s travel restriction a “violation of his rights” and urged President Salva Kiir to intervene.

“Governor Kuel Aguer has constitutional rights to attend to medical health care,” Yakani said. “Denying any person access to health care is a violation of health rights and right to life.”