Gen. Jibril Tap Gatjiek, a South Sudanese commander who worked with the Sudan Rapid Forces (RSF) as a mercenary and was arrested on 13 May 2024 by the SPLA-IO along the border with Sudan in Unity State, has been released from detention.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Saturday, Gen. Tap confirmed that he was released on Friday. He said he was accused of supporting the RSF, which is fighting the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) along the border.
“I was arrested in May last year because the SPLA-IO accused me of supporting RSF. However, I supported RSF because I wanted to bring back the South Sudanese who are in Sudan, and I mobilized South Sudanese,” he explained. “The reason for all this (arrest) is because SPLA-IO told me that they want me to join SAF because SPLA-IO is supporting the SAF, but I refused to join SAF.”
“The reason for my release is that I was sick when I was arrested in Tong Village, and I was detained and not under open arrest,” Gen Tap added.
He said that he was taken to Bentiu Hospital for medical treatment but that the SPLA-IO was planning to take him back to Tong Village, where he was detained.
“When I learned that they want to take me back to Tong Village in Rubkona County, I asked my family members to go to Governor Riek Biem Top and inform him that the SPLA-IO wants to take me back to detention,” he said. “The governor immediately gave a directive to the SPLA-IO generals not to take me back to detention. I was operated on before the South Sudan conflict, that is why I almost died in detention, but now I am recovering and I am fine.”
Meanwhile, Yai Pazale, the SPLA-IO Sector Two spokesperson, confirmed the release of Gen. Tap.
“He was arrested in May last year because he was supporting the RSF in Sudan at the border, and we are the ones who control the border line,” he said. “He was released to his family last week. He does not have forces. We decided to release him from detention in Tong, and he is now in Rubkonta Town with family members and friends.”