Lakes State authorities have released two senior members of the opposition SPLM-IO from military detention and placed them under house arrest in the state capital, Rumbek, officials and family members said.
The two men are former deputy governor Isaiah Akol Mathiang and former state minister for animal resources and fisheries Gai Magok. They had been held for about two years at military detention facilities in Yirol East and Rumbek East counties.
Akec Machiek, secretary-general of the Lakes State government, confirmed the release of Akol on Friday and said he was now under house arrest in Rumbek.
“Anyone who wants to visit Isaiah Akol is free to visit him at his house,” Machiek told Radio Tamazuj on Sunday, while acknowledging that house arrest did not amount to full freedom.
Machar Manyier, a close family member of Gai Magok, also confirmed that both men had been released from military detention. He said Magok was in good health and would remain at home.
“The phone you are communicating with me is his phone,” Manyier said, referring to Magok.
He said the families welcomed the release after the two men had spent about two years in detention.
Daniel Laat Kon, Lakes State coordinator for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), described Akol’s release as a positive step but called for authorities to expedite the cases of the detainees.
“These people need medical attention and they also need the freedom to visit their families and engage with other stakeholders,” Laat Kon said.
He urged the authorities to speed up their investigations and allow the detainees to receive medical treatment and regain their freedom.
The circumstances and charges surrounding the prolonged detention of the two SPLM-IO officials were not immediately clear.
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