The authorities in Jonglei State said the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) coordinator for Uror County, Gatwang Jokthiang Machar, has been abducted and taken to an unknown location by suspected elements associated with the SPLA-IO.
James Jok Alier, the chairperson of the RRC in Jonglei State, told Radio Tamazuj that the incident happened at about 1:00 a.m. on Friday when unknown individuals broke down the door of Gatwang’s house and threatened neighbors before taking him away.
“Today (Friday) in the morning I was informed by the county commissioner about the incident that happened last night, where the armed persons from the opposition came at night and took the RRC coordinator from his resident,” he said. “We are still trying to clarify the information and trying to find out where they have taken him.”
Jok said that information shared with him in the afternoon suggested the coordinator had been taken to Pieri, but authorities are still trying to establish the facts.
“We will try to ask the concerned leaders of that armed group to ensure that the RRC coordinator is released, because he is not a political actor,” he stated. “He is a humanitarian actor, and he doesn’t deserve such treatment. He has to be released back to his work.”
Jok said targeting a humanitarian coordinator violates human rights and amounts to an attack on a civilian population that depends on aid for survival. He warned that the incident threatens humanitarian actors delivering services to the people of Uror County.
“Such behaviors are a sign of threats not only to RRC, but to all humanitarian workers, to the entire humanitarian community in the county,” he said. “If humanitarian actors are just abducted from the streets at night, then what is the guarantee that this will end up only with RRC staff?”
He noted that many humanitarian staff are based in Uror County, especially at the county headquarters, and said safety remains the number one priority.
Jok said those behind the abduction appear to be sending a message to humanitarian actors to leave the area. He added that no one will continue delivering services where their safety is not guaranteed.
The SPLA-IO has not yet commented on the matter.
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