South Sudan army probes artist’s death at military facility
August 18, 2022 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese army (SSPDF) is investigating the circumstances under which a popular gospel singer died at a military base.
Multiple sources said Yuma Sebastian died in Yei River County on August 13.
Charles Yuma, an eyewitness in Yei River County of Central Equatoria State said Sebastian was taken to a military barrack within the area and later found dead.
“Actually, people do not know what happened to him in the prison. This is something authorities will have to investigate so that it is known. What is known to the public is the arrest by the military. He was arrested on Friday and then died on Saturday”, he told Sudan Tribune on Thursday.
Yuma called on the country’s authorities to properly investigate the deceased’s death and hold those responsible for his demise accountable.
“People should not be allowed to speculate the cause of his death. The authorities in Yei, especially the county authorities together with the national security and the army should constitute a team to investigate the cause and hold accountable those who committed this act,” he stressed.
According to the eyewitness, the artist’s death is likely to discourage the voluntary return of refugees who fled South Sudan into neighbouring Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the 2013 war.
“Such incidents are discouraging the return of refugees from neighbouring countries, especially when they hear reports of such killings,” he explained.
The Yei River County Commissioner, Aggrey Cyrus told Sudan Tribune on Friday that an investigation to establish the singer’s death was ongoing.
“The CID [Criminal Investigation Department] together with the national security and the army have been directed to conduct the investigation,” he said, vowing that the findings of the inquiry would be made public.
For his part, army spokesman, Maj Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) directed the formation of a military committee to investigate the mysterious death of the musician in the military facility in Yei.
This committee, he told Sudan Tribune, will present its findings to the military leadership for verification prior to submitting their final report with its recommendations to the governor and commissioner for further actions.
Sebastian, known for his ‘Akir talaga’ song, rose to fame during South Sudan’s referendum campaign for secession from neighbouring Sudan in January 2011.
It remains unclear what caused his death at a military base in Yei County.
(ST)