South Sudan spy agency releases gov’t critic Morris Mabior months after court bail

JUBA – South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) on Friday released civil society activist Morris Mabior Awikjok Bak, months after a Juba high court granted him bail. His release comes nearly two years after his arrest and detention.

Mabior, a prominent government critic, was detained after being extradited from Kenya to South Sudan in early 2023. His wife, Angelina Marol, told Sudans Post that he was arrested in Nairobi on February 4, 2023, by individuals in what she described as Kenyan police uniforms.

The activist had been particularly outspoken against former NSS Internal Security Bureau (ISB) General Akol Koor Kuc. After his arrest, Mabior was held in NSS facilities, although the agency initially denied his detention.

Court proceedings later revealed that the charges against Mabior, which included defamation under Sections 289, 113, and 291 of the 2008 Penal Act, were filed by General Akol Koor.

Despite a high court granting Mabior bail in August, the NSS and the National Prisons Service failed to implement the court’s order.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), confirmed Mabior’s release on Friday.

Yakani, who has been a vocal critic of NSS detentions, said it took him and others 21 days of negotiations with the new Director of the Internal Security Bureau to secure Mabior’s release.

“This is to confirm that Morris Mabior has been released,” Yakani said. “It took us about 21 days of deliberation with the NSS leadership, especially with the new Director of the Internal Security Bureau, to make his release a reality.”

Yakani also revealed that Mabior is suffering from kidney and other health problems, which he believes were exacerbated during his illegal detention. He called on the South Sudanese government to allow Mabior to travel abroad for medical treatment.

“His health situation is not good. He has kidney problems and other health issues that developed during his illegal detention. I am calling on the government of South Sudan, under President Kiir’s leadership, to allow him to travel abroad for treatment,” Yakani added.

Yakani also announced the release of activist Michael Wetnhialic, who was arrested in Juba in March. Wetnhialic’s release comes after approximately 7 months and 13 days of detention. He stated that he was released on Thursday, a day before Mabior, from NSS detention in Juba.