South Sudanese civil society group Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has urged authorities in Lakes State to either charge two detained senior SPLM-IO officials in court or release them, saying their detention for nearly 18 months without trial violates the law.
The appeal follows the transfer of former Lakes State Deputy Governor Isaiah Akol Mathiang and the state’s former Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries, both members of the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), from detention in Yirol East County to military facilities in Rumbek.
Local authorities confirmed on Monday that the two men, who had been held in Yirol East for almost a year and a half, were first moved to Mabor-duong military barracks in Rumbek East County before being transferred on Sunday to Rock City military barracks in Rumbek Town.
Rumbek East County Commissioner Malual Anyuon told Radio Tamazuj he was aware of the transfers but said he had not been officially informed by the state leadership.
“I was not informed by the leadership that the political detainees had been brought to Mabor-duong. I later heard that the former deputy governor had been transferred from Yirol East to the military outpost in Rumbek East,” he said.
“Today, I also heard that the SPLM-IO political detainees had been moved from Mabor-duong military barracks to Rock City military barracks in Rumbek Town, but I was not officially informed.”
Anyuon confirmed that the transfers had taken place and said the detainees were moved by SSPDF commander Bol Madok.
Daniel Laat Kon, CEPO’s state coordinator in Lakes State, said the organisation was concerned by the prolonged detention of the two officials without due process.
“We have learned that Dr. Isaiah Akol Mathiang was removed from Yirol East to Rumbek East and has now reportedly been transferred to the Rock City military detention centre in Rumbek Town,” he said.
“We have consistently called for his release. If the government believes there is a case against him and the former minister of animal resources, then they should be taken to court.”
Laat said the authorities should transfer the two men to Juba if they intend to prosecute them, arguing that their case should be heard alongside other cases involving detained SPLM-IO members.
“Their case is not different from the ongoing cases in Juba. The state government should take them there so their case can be heard together with those of other SPLM-IO members,” he said.
“Prolonged detention is a violation of the law. The government should either take them to court or release them because they have been held for a long time without any legal process.”
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