Security personnel of the South Sudanese government stopped two freed political prisoners from leaving the country this afternoon, just hours after being set free by a judge after the prosecution dropped charges against the men.

The two released person, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth and Oyai Deng, were boarding an airplane at Juba Airport on Friday afternoon en route to Nairobi, Kenya when they were halted by security officers, who blocked them from boarding the plane and took their passports from them.

According to Monyluak Alor Kuol, the lawyer representing the two men, Ezekiel Gatkuoth and Oyai Deng were leaving to Nairobi to visit their families.

“It is true that Ezekiel and Oyai were travelling to Nairobi this afternoon and their passports were taken by the security at the airport when they already were about to enter into the plane – and I don’t know who ordered that,” Monyluak stated.

He said he will investigate the matter with the concerned authority. “They are leaving the country – not going to join any party; they haven’t yet decided to join any group in the talks,” he added.

A source at Juba Airport said the order to stop the two politicians and retain their passports came from a higher level.

Oyai and Ezekiel were part of a group of four including the former SPLM secretary-general Pagan Amum who were arrested and later taken to trial for attempting a ‘coup’ against the president.

Photo: Former Ambassador to the United States Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth (in suit, right) and former National Security Minister Oyai Deng (far back) celebrate their release by a court in Juba, 25 April 2014 (Radio Tamauzj)