JUBA, JANUARY 6th 2023 (Thejubamirror news ) – South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) has escalated its ongoing detentions and arrested a Northern Bahr el Ghazal State-based activist over allegations of ties to rebel leader General Paul Malong Awan.
Activist Samuel Garang Dut was arrested in Juba on Wednesday by men in civilians clothes and was driven away in a pickup vehicle, according to a source who said he witnessed the activist’s arrest by the state security operatives.
“He was arrested on Wednesday by members of the National Security Service (NSS) and he was taken in a pickup car. He was arrested by a number of between eight and ten people who were all dressed in civilians’ clothes,” the source said.
But Achol Athiang, the wife of the detained activist told Radio Tamazuj separately that her husband was arrested by members of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) Military Intelligence Directorate for alleged links to Gen. Paul Malong Awan.
“Garang called his colleague to pick him up from the university campus and take him home and when they were leaving, the military personnel said they wanted Samuel (Garang),” she is quoted by Radio Tamazuj as saying.
“His friend asked the soldiers why they were arresting Garang and they told him to visit their office. When he got there, he was told that Garang has been in communication with Gen. Malong,” the activist’s wife added, denying any links between her husband and Malong.
DETENTION SPREE
The arrest of the civil society activist comes days after South Sudan state security operatives arrested and detained at least six journalists over leaking out of a video footage in which President Salva Kiir Mayardit appeared to be wetting on himself in public.
The six journalists were all working for the state-own broadcaster, the South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), and activist and the journalists’ body have called on the government security operatives to release the detained journalists and warned against torture.
