SPLM-IO politicians, military officers “living in fear” in Juba after colleague kidnapped

JUBA – Members of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) led by South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny claimed that they are living in fear after the recent alleged kidnapping of their colleague, Brigadier Luka Ghar Goal Riak, in Juba by an unknown armed men suspected to be members of the National Security Service.

Brigadier Luka Ghar Goal Riak was reportedly kidnapped on 6 October while visiting relatives at the former United Nations Mission in South Sudan Protection of Civil Site (POC) in Juba when unidentified men in an unnumbered pickup vehicle came to catch him before throwing him in the car.

Speaking during the CTSAMVM security meeting in Juba on Thursday, Gen. Andrew Mangu Adara, SPLM-IO Senior Representative to the peace monitoring mechanism said they are living in fear following the kidnapping of Luka Ghar Goal Riak by yet to be identified group in Juba.

“I really regret the situation we members of the SPLM-IO are in now in Juba. We have comrade Luka Ghar Goal who has been kidnapped some days back in Juba,” Mangu said during the CTSAMVM security meeting in Juba.

Mangu claimed their lives are in danger in Juba.

“We are living in fear and our lives are in danger here in Juba. I am appealing to the IGAD and International Community to have a consideration on what is going on in Juba,” he stated.

He called on the unknown group who has kidnapped their colleague to release him.

“We are not an enemy to the peace. We are South Sudanese and we should not be treated like rats. If the implementation of the peace deal is having some problems, it would be better to take us where we came from. I urge comrade Luka should b release,” he said.

Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel, South Sudan People’s Defense Forces Senior Representative to Peace Monitoring Mechanism said the incident would be investigated.

“The parties to the peace agreement are implementation ceasefire and they don’t have any clashes among themselves and what happened to require investigation,” Mujung said.

Mujung denied any involvement of security organs in the kidnapping of Luka Ghar Goal Riak.

“We sometimes have unknown gunmen or criminals and he didn’t mention who kidnapped his colleague but we will try to find out and inform the public,” he added.

“We have agreed to implement the peace agreement and respect all signatories but I don’t think his colleague was kidnapped by our organized forces, maybe somebody else,” he said.