South Sudan is experiencing one of the most difficult chapters in its history since gaining independence in July 2011. A disturbing pattern has emerged in recent years: the creation of alleged power threats and the weaponisation of state security institutions to silence, intimidate, or eliminate individuals perceived as obstacles to political and economic authority.
These practices are not only used to remove certain figures from senior civil and military positions under the pretext of “national security,” but have extended to the arbitrary detention of citizens — including members of the ruling SPLM — without due process and in violation of constitutional guarantees. Many detainees remain held in military facilities and intelligence centers without charge, without access to legal representation, and without the protection of the law.
This reality brings painful echoes of the past. It mirrors the tactics once used by successive Sudanese regimes in Khartoum during the long liberation wars. At that time, southern Sudanese were routinely accused of espionage, collaboration with rebel forces, or being “fifth columnists.” Many were detained, tortured, or killed based on fabricated allegations, often instigated by personal rivalries or tribal grudges. Thousands of innocent southern Sudanese lost their lives because a single accusation of disloyalty was enough to justify indefinite detention or execution.
As someone who has personally witnessed these practices, I can attest:
“Every time a political threat is rumored in Juba today, I am reminded of the Islamists in Khartoum in the 1990s, who created imaginary threats as a tool to arrest and intimidate people, or to distract the public. I remember when Catholic priests and innocent people, including Father Hilary Boma, were falsely accused of plotting to bomb Khartoum. Many were tortured, several died, and a sham court was formed to prosecute them. Abel Alier courageously defended the innocent, as documented in his book and other legal accounts of that era.”
Historical parallels: Fabricated political threats in Khartoum during the 1990s
Every time a political threat is rumored in Juba, one is reminded of the dark practices of Sudan’s National Islamic Front in the 1990s. According to accounts detailed in Abel Alier’s writings and other lawyers of the time, the regime routinely fabricated plots to distract the public, eliminate opponents, and consolidate power.
One of the most infamous cases involved a group of southern Sudanese in Khartoum — including Catholic priests — who were falsely accused of plotting to bomb key government and economic installations. Among them was Father Hilary Boma, wrongly charged with leading the operation. Dozens were detained, tortured, and several died in custody.
The accused were brought before a sham court, and Abel Alier — as documented in his book and legal accounts from that era — courageously defended them, exposing the fabricated nature of the charges and the political motivations behind the trial. This episode demonstrates how the state can manipulate “national security” narratives to suppress dissent and distract the public from governance failures.
An environment where power threats are impossible — yet constantly rumored
Given the current structure, organisation, capacity, and deployment of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), a military takeover or real power grab is practically impossible. The army lacks the unified chain of command, logistical capability, institutional discipline, and ideological cohesion necessary for coordinating a national takeover. Any individual attempting such an action under the present configuration would, in essence, be attempting suicide.
This reality strengthens the argument that many of the so-called political threats rumored in Juba are not genuine, but politically engineered narratives designed to settle scores, eliminate rivals, or distract the population during moments of national crisis.
A nation in despair, while energy is spent on political maneuvers
These fabricated accusations and arbitrary arrests are unfolding at a moment when the nation faces unprecedented humanitarian and socio-economic catastrophe:
- Devastating, continuous floods have destroyed villages, farms, livestock, and livelihoods.
- Mass displacement and famine-like conditions are pushing communities to the brink of survival.
- The South Sudanese Pound has collapsed, wiping out family incomes and savings.
- Over 100,000 public employees have gone more than a year without salaries, leaving families unable to afford food, rent, or school fees.
- Refugees and internally displaced persons cannot return home due to pervasive insecurity and lack of services. Doctors and nurses cannot remain at their posts because they are unpaid, overstretched, and working under impossible conditions.
- Health services are collapsing: Entire communities are left without medical care, leading to preventable deaths.
- Thousands of children have left their homes and schools, forced by hunger and insecurity to live on the streets of towns across South Sudan, exposed to violence, addiction, and exploitation.
In such a fragile national context — marked by hunger, displacement, the disappearance of salaries, and the collapse of essential services — the state’s obsession with rumored political threats and politically motivated detentions is not only irresponsible, but it is also destructive.
Instead of addressing floods, famine, economic collapse, and human suffering, political energy is diverted toward silencing critics and manufacturing threats. This deepens fear among the population and erodes the already fragile trust in institutions.
Violation of the constitution, human rights conventions, and the peace agreement
These practices violate:
- The Transitional Constitution of South Sudan
- The laws establishing the South Sudan Human Rights Commission
- Regional and international human rights treaties signed by South Sudan
- The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS)
- The founding principles and vision of the SPLM/SPLA, which fought for a democratic, not a police state
The use of unlawful detention, torture, and fabricated claims is a direct betrayal of the ideals for which countless South Sudanese died during the liberation struggle.
A diplomatic call for action: Release detainees or bring them before the courts
In the interest of national stability, justice, and human dignity, this article calls on the Government of South Sudan to:
- Immediately release all individuals detained without charge, including journalists, civil servants, military personnel, and civilians.
- Present any detainees accused of genuine offenses before independent, competent courts in accordance with South Sudanese law and international standards.
- End the practice of circulating alleged political threats, as it undermines national unity and destroys public trust.
- Prioritize the humanitarian crisis — floods, famine, unpaid salaries, collapsing services — instead of using state institutions to suppress dissent.
- Uphold the principles of the liberation struggle, ensuring that the sacrifices of millions of South Sudanese are not betrayed.
South Sudan must choose between two paths:
A future governed by fear, suspicion, and political manipulation;
or a future grounded in justice, rule of law, and respect for the dignity of every citizen.
The path chosen today will determine whether the dream of a free and democratic South Sudan is fulfilled — or lost.
O God, uphold us united in peace and harmony, and bless South Sudan.
The writer, William Sunday D. Tor, is a South Sudanese political analyst, columnist, and university lecturer specializing in Security Studies and International Development. He can be reached via williamtor2011@gmail.com.
The views expressed in ‘opinion’ articles published by Radio Tamazuj are solely those of the writer. The veracity of any claims made is the responsibility of the author, not Radio Tamazuj.