Top SPLM-IO officials detained in Aweil released – party official

JUBA – Two senior members of South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar who were arrested on Wednesday in Aweil, the capital of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, have been released, an official says.

Officials told Sudans Post on Thursday that deputy chairperson of the group in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Dominic Ukech Lueth, and the group’s acting state information secretary, Nicola Ngong Elias “were arrested and taken to the military base in Mathiang today.”

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, Dut Majokdit, member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council (NLC), said Ukech and Elias have been released this morning and decried what he called a continued intimidation against the SPLM-IO in Northern Bahr el Ghazal.

“Our comrades have been released by the security agencies of the SPLM-IG. We want to tell them that we will not be intimidated because this is intimidation not only to us, but the general public that if they join us, they will be arrested,” he said.

Majokdit who is also the Chairperson of Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner for Northern Bahr el Ghazal State called on the parties to the revitalized peace agreement in order to replace what he called a one-sided security sector so as to protect the citizens regardless of their political affiliations.

“I call on the parties to the revitalized peace agreement to release funds for the graduation of the unified forces so that they are graduated to take over from the SPLM-IG security forces. A one-sided army and security sector cannot protect citizens of different political colors,” he said.