Machar condemns arrest of ex-Northern Bahr el Ghazal governor, demands immediate release

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President and leader of the main armed Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition Dr. Riek Machar Teny has condemned, in a communiqué following an emergency meeting of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau in Juba, this week’s arrest of former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Kuel Aguer.

Aguer was arrested by members of national security service on Monday after participating in the establishment of a civil rights group that aims to mobilize for popular uprising against the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit amid economic and political crisis despite the signing of a peace agreement in 2018.

The People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) was established with the aim to mobilize the people of South Sudan and “make their voices heard”, warning that if nothing changed, the country could be heading back to war.

In the communiqué following the SPLM-IO Political Bureau meeting convened purposely to discuss the defection of the SPLM-IO chief of General Staff General Simon Gatwech Dual, Machar condemned the arrest of Aguer and demanding his immediate release saying freedom of expression is enshrined in the revitalized peace agreement.

“Furthermore, the Political Bureau discussed and condemned, as a matter of principle, the arbitrary detention of some members of the Peoples’ Coalition for Civil Action, as this group was exercising Its constitutional right of freedom of speech, expression and association even though the SPLM/A (IO) does not necessarily agree with the content of their message,” Machar said in the communiqué signed by him.

“In the light of this, the Political Bureau demands the immediate release of these detainees,” he added.

The main armed opposition group also said the meeting “discussed the constant harassment, arbitrary arrests and detention of the SPLM/A (IO) personnel by ITGONU security organs, particularly In Juba and other towns in the country.”