He made the revelation during an exclusive interview with Sudans Post on Friday.
Governor Kuel and President Kiir met at the airport to welcome the body of Gen. Salva Mathok Gengdit, a veteran politician who died from a hospital in Thailand.
“The president has wished, that if he would have arrested me and killed me, that would have been the better option. Because at one time I met with him at the airport, and he greeted me and he said [that] ‘I s it because I don’t kill people that people are opposing me?’” Kuel revealed during the interview.
Kuel, a former Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state said he openly told the South Sudanese leader that he lacked the legitimate power to arrest and kill anyone.
“….and I told him, you cannot just arrest somebody and kill because you kill somebody whom you are fighting with, but I’m not fighting with you and even though the president does not have powers to arrest and kill,” he explained.
Kuel was arrested in July 2021 after signing the declaration by the People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA) calling for a change of government in South Sudan by way of a popular uprising.
He was charged under sections, 52, 63, 66, 74, 75, 78, and 80 in the Penal Code Act which all talk about overthrowing the government organising as well as organising an unauthorised demonstration.
In December 2022, the Special High Court in Juba dismissed all the treason charges that were brought against the ex-Northern Bahr el Ghazal State governor.
The civil rights activist said authorities have imposed travel restrictions on him.
“It is true that I am restricted from traveling. Not just restricted, but my passport was confiscated at Juba International Airport. That was on the 19th of April, 2023, on my way to India because I was referred to India even before I was arrested and then during the time when I was in the prison I was also referred when I have one and half months sick, [and] in the hospital I was also referred, but because I was under detention I could not be allowed to travel,” he stated.
The former governor said he needs urgent treatment for multiple sicknesses.
“But after I was acquitted from the court, I prepared myself to go to India where I was prepared to go and seek medication because I have problem with my spine cord and something need to be done as a surgical work this is beside other diseases like diabetic and blood pressure and cholesterol and many other sicknesses,” said Kuel.
He said a national security agent confiscated is passport on arrival at the airport.
“I have made attempts to get my passport back, but not succeeded,” he added.
Governor Kuel said restrictions imposed on him violated his right to movement.
“I have the right to move out of the country and return and that is Article 27.2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan [which] allows citizens to get out and return without restriction. So that is a violation of that article, and that article is part of liberty and fundamental freedoms in the constitution,” he stressed.
Meanwhile the civil rights activists said an interim period is vital for South Sudan.
“The interim period should be based on the following. First of all, there should be a presidency of which there should be three people, one from each region, and that person should be elected within the regional conference, like what happened in national dialogue,” he said, ruling out a transition period extension.
“Not extension, because extension means the same parties should continue in the government. No. I’m calling for an interim period where a completely new government has to be set up using regional and state conferences,” he observed.
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