Watchdog urges gov’t to release ‘Prophet’ Abraham Chol, Kuel Aguer

JUBA – The Human Rights Watch has on Tuesday urged the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit to release controversial cleric, ‘Prophet’ Abraham Chol, and former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal Kuel Aguer who have been detained for almost a year without substantial charges.

Chol, a government critic, was arrested on the night of July 8^th last year after he called for President Salva Kiir and First Vice President to leave power for failing the people of South. He had also prophesied that a new president was going to be installed ahead of South Sudan’s 10^th independence anniversary.

Kuel Aguer was detained early in August 2021 after he and other prominent activists such as Abraham Awolich formed a civil resistance group that would have organized an uprising against the government of President Kiir and First Vice President Machar which they accused of corruption and war.

“These extrajudicial detentions not only violate the fundamental rights of South Sudan’s citizens but compromise the integrity of the entire criminal justice system,” said Nyagoah Tut Pur, South Sudan researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“Instead of throwing critics in jail, the authorities should enhance civic space and advance the rule of law including respect for due process rights,” the rights advocate added.

She added that South Sudan government should release the government critic given the nature of their charges saying the regime has failed to provide fair trial that would have seen them restored to their civil liberties.

“Given the nature of the charges, and the violations of their rights, the South Sudanese authorities should immediately release the two men and drop the charges against them,” Pur said.

“The authorities have shown that they cannot guarantee them speedy or fair trials and so should at a minimum restore their liberty and respect their rights to freedom of opinion and expression,” she adds.