Human Rights Watch reported the arrest of 22 political and military personnel in South Sudan amid concerns of human rights violations. These detentions are primarily linked to opposition leaders and have not followed due process. HRW has urged the authorities to reveal the detainees’ whereabouts and called for international intervention against such oppressive actions.
South Sudanese authorities have arrested at least 22 military and political personnel since the start of 2023, raising significant human rights concerns, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). These individuals are primarily connected to opposition leaders and Riek Machar, the First Vice President and head of the Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO). Notable detainees include Lieutenant General Gabriel Duop Lam, Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol, and Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol.
HRW emphasized that the arrests were executed without due process, with a call for authorities to disclose the whereabouts and legal status of detainees. Nyagoah Tut Pur, a researcher at HRW, highlighted the urgent need for transparency, noting that the current lack of due process exacerbates instability within the already fragile security environment in South Sudan. Authorities must be compelled to bring the detainees before a fair court system.
The National Security Service (NSS) has opted not to comment on its responsibilities for the arbitrary detentions. HRW has previously stated that the NSS exploits its extensive power without adequate legal supervision. The organization pressed for an end to enforced disappearances that have persisted since March 4, 2025, urging the international community, including the UN and African Union, to advocate against further repression by South Sudanese authorities.
Article 2 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance defines such actions as the unlawful deprivation of liberty by state agents, which is not openly acknowledged or concealed. Although South Sudan is not a signatory to this convention, the prohibition against enforced disappearances is recognized globally as an essential norm.
This surge of arrests has been linked to violent clashes between government forces and armed groups in the Upper Nile region, particularly in Nasir, a stronghold of the SPLA-IO. The situation escalated further on March 7 when armed assailants targeted a UN rescue helicopter, leading to fatalities and increasing civilian displacement.
Human Rights Watch has urged South Sudan to halt the arbitrary detention of opposition leaders, revealing their whereabouts and upholding due process. The ongoing pattern of enforced disappearances raises serious human rights concerns amidst an unstable political environment. International organizations are called upon to intervene and advocate for the rights of detained individuals, reflecting the global norm against enforced disappearances that transcends national boundaries.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
