Machar’s deputy Oyet Nathaniel blocked by NSS from leaving South Sudan

JUBA – The deputy chairman of South Sudan’s main opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, said he was prevented from leaving the country on Wednesday while attempting to leave the country.

In a statement seen by Sudans Post, Oyet, who also serves as first deputy speaker of parliament, said he was informed by a security officer at Juba International Airport that the Director-General of the National Security Service (NSS), Akol Koor, had blocked his departure without providing any reason.

“This morning, I have been prevented from leaving Juba International Airport, to attend to an urgent personal matter regarding my life. The National Security agent informed me that my travel has been cancelled by the DG of National Security Services, Gen. Akol Koor, no apparent reason was given,” Oyet said.

The SPLM-IO official accused South Sudan’s intelligence chief of fostering dictatorship, saying the agency had turned the world’s youngest country into a “police state” worse than pre-independence Sudan.

“This is yet a testimony that there are those enhancing dictatorship and lack of civil liberties in the country, on top is the DG of National Security Services,” he said.

“The National Security Services has unequivocally turned the Republic of South Sudan into a police state and a prison worse than the Sudan Khartoum-based regime against whom we fought our way out to independence,” he added.

Oyet vowed not to tolerate any violation of civil liberties, including freedom of movement, and said he would return to the airport on Friday to attempt to leave again.

“I shall proceed yet again to the airport tomorrow and see what will happen to me. I will never accept Akol Koor to breach my fundamental human rights and freedoms while being paid by the Republic to protect our people,” he said.

“I shall be consulting with Parliamentary Caucuses across the board with a view of holding those responsible for such human violations to account,” he added.

The incident comes two months after South Sudan’s transitional parliament passed a controversial bill granting the NSS extensive powers, which rights groups say are aimed at restricting public freedoms.

The bill, which became law by default after President Salva Kiir failed to sign or return it to parliament within 30 days, allows the NSS to monitor, search, and detain without warrants under sections 54 and 55.

This is the second high-profile case within the SPLM-IO involving travel restrictions. The group’s leader, First Vice President Riek Machar, is currently confined to his residence and office in Juba and has been barred from traveling outside the capital.