SPLM-IO appointed deputy head of Lakes State RRC released under travel restriction

JUBA – The former deputy chairperson of the Lakes State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), Adhum Achol Geu, arrested in September last year over alleged links to the killing of the commission chair, has been released after more than a year in military detention.

Geu, an appointee of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), was arrested on September 9, 2023, a day after the fatal shooting of RRC chair Dut Marial Chahoc by a security guard at the commission.

Following the shooting, an exchange of gunfire between security guards and security forces led to the death of the guard responsible for Chahoc’s killing. Government officials initially suspected Geu’s involvement in the murder, but his colleagues denied any connection between him and the incident.

Geu was held in military detention for over a year, during which his family at times did not know his location. He was detained at a military facility in Rumbek and was released on Wednesday by the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) military intelligence.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Thursday, Geu confirmed his release, maintaining his innocence and stating that investigations cleared him of any involvement in the killing of the commission chair and warranted his release.

He revealed that he was released alongside the state RRC director of administration and finance, a security personnel member deployed at the commission, and the driver of the late chairperson.

“On September 9, 2023, I was arrested by the military at a military facility in Rumbek, and I was accused of knowing about the killing of the Lakes State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission chair, late Hon. Dut Malual and Maker Amuom, a member of the commission. I was the deputy chairperson when the incident happened,” Geu said.

“However, the investigation has found that I did not do anything, and they set me free with three other RRC officials. They are the RRC director for admin and finance, the security personnel deployed at the commission, and the driver. We were released on November 19, 2024,” he added.

Geu disclosed that his release came with one condition: he is not permitted to leave the state capital, Rumbek.

“I am permanently released but under one condition: I am not allowed to travel outside the state capital. I was detained at a military facility known as Panda Hotel and then relocated to another facility known as Rock City here in Rumbek,” he said.