![Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol during panel discussion at 5th Oil and Power Conference in Juba on Wednesday [Photo by Wani Yusif/Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Puot-Kang-Chuol.jpg?resize=1024%2C618&quality=89&ssl=1)
The arrest comes amid escalating tensions in Juba, where detention of SPLM/SPLA (IO) figures has started, and Nasir, Puot’s hometown, where clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and local armed youth have raised concerns over instability in the region.
In a statement titled “Factual Account of the Arrest of Hon. Puot Kang Chol,” the minister’s spokesman, Sirir Gabriel Yiei Ruot, confirmed that NSS personnel stormed Puot’s residence at approximately 2:00 a.m. on March 5, 2025. The operation resulted in the detention of Puot, several family members, and his bodyguards.
“No official explanation or legal basis for the detention has been provided to Hon. Puot Kang Chol,” the statement read. “This action raises serious concerns about the rule of law and the treatment of senior government officials.”
The detention of Puot Kang Chol, a prominent figure within the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO), and yesterday’s detention of SPLA-IO chief of staff Gabiel Duop Lam, among other officers, has sparked fears of further political instability in South Sudan.
The minister hails from Nasir, a town in Upper Nile State that has recently been the epicenter of violent clashes between government forces and local armed groups.
These clashes have been attributed to longstanding grievances over SSPDF crimes such as rape and looting, and the delayed implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
“The security forces arrived at the minister’s residence in the early hours of the morning, heavily armed, and took him away without explanation,” a high-ranking SPLM-IO official told Sudans Post on condition of anonymity. “This is a worrying development, especially given the ongoing tensions in Nasir.”
A second source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, suggested that Puot’s arrest may be linked to his criticism of the government’s handling of the crisis in Nasir.
“Puot has been vocal about the need for dialogue and a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Nasir. His arrest sends a chilling message to those advocating for peace,” the source said.
The detention of a sitting minister underscores the fragile nature of South Sudan’s transitional government, which has struggled to maintain stability since gaining independence in 2011.
The NSS has faced repeated accusations of arbitrary arrests and human rights abuses, though the agency has consistently denied such allegations.
As of publication, neither the NSS nor the office of President Salva Kiir has issued an official statement regarding Puot’s detention. The SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Riek Machar, has also remained silent on the matter, despite a statement yesterday condemning the arrest of its top general.
The arrest comes at a critical juncture for South Sudan, as the country prepares for elections slated for December 2024. Analysts warn that the ongoing tensions in Nasir and the detention of high-profile figures like Gabriel Duop and Puot could further undermine efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability.
“This is a dangerous precedent,” a third source close to the matter told Sudans Post. “If the government continues to target political figures without due process, it will only deepen the mistrust and divisions that have plagued this country for years.”
