South Sudan opposition group confirms ‘temporary arrest’ of its leader Peter Biar

JUBA – The Revive South Sudan Party (RSSP) has confirmed the arrest of its leader, Peter Biar Ajak, in the United States, characterizing it as a ‘temporary’ measure over what it claims are unconfirmed charges.

The United States Department of Justice announced Ajak’s arrest on Tuesday, alongside former Secretary-General of Jonglei State Chamber of Commerce, Abraham Chol Keech. The charges allege conspiracy to export illicit arms to South Sudan, which is under a United Nations arms embargo.

In a statement, the RSSP acknowledged the arrest but portrayed it as temporary, intended to facilitate an ongoing investigation.

“The leadership of Revive South Sudan Party (RSSP) would like to inform its members as well as the general public that we have just received confirmed reports that our comrade, Dr. Peter Biar Ajak, has been put under temporary arrest after unconfirmed allegations leveled against him,” the statement read.

“We would like the public to know that this is simply an administrative detention to finalize the process of investigation pending judicial proceedings, but our comrade will be released soon to defend himself in front of a competent court of law,” it continued.

The statement emphasized that the allegations against Ajak remain unproven and stressed the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.

The RSSP further questioned the credibility of the accusations, citing the abundance of weapons already present in the region and casting doubt on the necessity of acquiring arms from the United States for export to South Sudan.

The opposition group concluded by assuring the public that Biar “will be released within the next few days, and he should be able to come to the public to explain the circumstances surrounding these baseless accusations.”