The former first undersecretary in South Sudan’s finance ministry, Garang Majak Bol, remains in detention, his family said, dismissing social media reports that he had been released.
President Salva Kiir removed Majak from office on Dec. 1, 2025. He was arrested in Juba on Feb. 23 upon arrival from Rwanda, during a government crackdown on individuals suspected of corruption and mismanagement of public funds.
Reports circulating on social media claimed that Majak had been freed from the National Security Service’s main detention facility in Juba, known as the Blue House. His family, however, told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday that he remains in custody.
A family member called on authorities to either release Majak or bring him before a competent court if he has committed a crime, adding that relatives have not been allowed to visit him since his arrest.
“The family has not been allowed to see him since February, and it is now nearly three months in custody,” the relative said.
The family also urged the government to disclose the reasons for his detention. “We are trying to understand the exact reasons behind his arrest, but there is no clear information. We demand that authorities release him or take him to court for trial,” the relative said.
On April 30, authorities released former finance minister Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol without charge after he was arrested in late February in the border town of Nimule. Several other former officials remain in National Security Service custody.
Last week, Justice Minister Michael Makuei said investigations into those detained were ongoing under a committee supervised by the justice ministry. He rejected criticism over prolonged detention, saying the process was being conducted in accordance with the law.
South Sudan has long struggled with corruption and the mismanagement of public funds, often linked to weak accountability mechanisms.
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