![Mayor Kalisto Lado Faustino Juba City Council [Photo by Awan Achiek/Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IMG_3274-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1)
Ladu was arrested on Saturday by South Sudanese security agents, according to his wife and family.
Police spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Justin confirmed the arrest, stating that Ladu’s wife filed a report and that Ladu was was detained by the National Security Service (NSS).
In a statement on Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy joined human rights groups, civil society organizations, political groups, and individuals in condemning the arrest.
“The U.S. Embassy condemns the utter lack of transparency and due process in the March 30 arrest of former Juba mayor Kalisto Ladu by security personnel in South Sudan,” the statement read.
“His detention is yet another example of the South Sudanese transitional government’s failure to open civic and political space for its citizens,” it added.
The U.S. government called on South Sudanese authorities to respect the rule of law and provide a public accounting of Ladu’s detention.
“We call on transitional government authorities to respect the rule of law and provide a public accounting of Mr. Ladu’s detention,” the U.S. Embassy statement concluded.
Ladu, a vocal critic of land grabbing, has previously called out senior government officials and military officers for allegedly abetting the practice.
The government has not yet announced any charges against Ladu or indicated when he might be arraigned in court.
