By Jenifer James
The Sudan People Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) has strongly condemned the arrest of the Deputy Governor in Lakes State, Dr Isaiah Akol Mathiang, along with several other party officials.
In a press release to the media on Tuesday, the spokesperson of the SPLM-IO party Pal Mai Deng, said Dr Mathiang was detained on March 24, along with Gai Magok, Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries; Ater Akolde, Member of the State Legislature; and Mandela Maciek, State Chairperson of the SPLM-IO Youth League.
Pal denounced the detentions as politically motivated and a direct violation of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
“This is yet another clear attempt to suppress the SPLM-IO and undermine the peace agreement, the unlawful detention of our officials and the closure of our party office in Rumbek are violations that cannot be ignored.”
The SPLM-IO is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all its detained political and military leaders.
“We call on the National Security Service to stop these arbitrary arrests and refrain from using ethnic hate speech that could push our country back into war,” Deng added.
Despite the rising tensions, the SPLM-IO reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process.
“Our movement remains dedicated to the full implementation of the R-ARCSS,” Deng emphasized. “We have no interest in dragging South Sudan back into conflict.”
Pal urged authorities to reopen its party offices in Rumbek, emphasizing that political freedom and dialogue are essential for maintaining stability in the country.
Among the currently detained government officials are the National minister of petroleum, Puot Kang Chuol; Lt Gen Gabriel Duop Lam the deputy chief of defence forces; and other members.
Early this month the IGAD summit ended with the call for the release of detained officials unless credible evidence warrants legal proceedings conducted transparently and following due process.