South Sudanese government detained SPLM-IO humanitarian officials

March 21, 2016 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudanese government has been accused of detaining three humanitarian officials of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) for two days before releasing them on Monday.

The officials we took off from the national capital, Juba, and attempted to transit through Malakal to Pagak, were arrested and detained by the state government of Eastern Nile (former Upper Nile state).

Opposition officials however said they were released on Monday and returned to the national capital, Juba.

“Yes, they were detained in Malakal. They have been however freed and returned to Juba on Monday,” confirmed James Gatdet Dak, press secretary for the SPLM-IO leader, Riek Machar.

He said the incident was a violation of the implementation of the peace agreement, adding that the officials were part of the advance team in Juba, coordinating humanitarian issues between Juba and Pagak.

In a related development, 23 senior officers of the SPLA-IO who were supposed to be airlifted from Pagak to Juba on Monday could not travel due to failure by president Salva Kiir’s government to provide clearance for their movement.

The chief negotiator for the SPLM-IO, Taban Deng Gai, on Monday accused the government of trying to collapse the peace deal, saying Juba was not cooperating in the arrangements to fly in the forces.

(ST)