Political motives behind Northern Bahr el Ghazal arrests alleged

September 21, 2012 (WAU) – South Sudan’s security agents have arrested four people in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, generating political tension, officials told Sudan Tribune on Friday.   
 
Santino Mou Akot, a local administrative officer is said to have been arrested with three others in Aweil, the state capital.

An immediate family member said Akot has been behind bars for the last four days.

State authorities have not explained the arrest an anonymous family member told Sudan Tribune.

Security sources working in the prison told Sudan Tribune that the arrests were made due to their criticism of individuals in the state administration.

Akot’s wife said on Thursday she spent three days wondering about the whereabouts of her husband before resorting to touring the detention centres in the area and finding him in a building previously used by the elections commission.
 
“He has not eaten since he was arrested on Tuesday evening. He has not even been allowed to change his clothes for the last three days. I went yesterday and asked whether I could be allowed to talk to him but the guards refused my request. They also did not accept that I bring him food though he really looks hungry, very weak indeed,” she explained.    
 
She said she has heard from friends of her husband that a letter ordering his arrest was sent from Juba. “They say the letter to arrest him and other people was brought from Juba. He is now arrested with fourteen people. I do not know whether they are people with whom they are accused or people he found there,” she said.
 
A legislator who asked for anonymity told Sudan Tribune on Friday that charges brought against Akot were just political concoctions motivated by a need to silence him as a political opponent to other politicians.

(ST)