S. Sudan army returns confiscated property to former minister

January 12, 2015 (JUBA) – The South Sudanese army (SPLA) has returned property confiscated by its military intelligence agency from Luka Biong Deng, a former minister at the presidency, following his detention in Central Equatoria’s Yei late last year.

Deng said that at a meeting on Monday the SPLA chief of general staff, director general of military intelligence and his deputy had all expressed regret over the incident.

“The command of the SPLA described the incident as an isolated incident that does not have any connection with the SPLA and I am satisfied with such assertion as the officer who arrested me acted without directives from his immediate command.” Said Deng.

“My properties detained in Yei have been returned back to me today (Monday),” he added.

Deng’s property was reportedly confiscated on suspicion that he was channeling funds to entice youths in the Equatoria region to join the country’s armed opposition allied to president Salva Kiir’s main political rival and former vice-president, Riek Machar.

“I am happy and appreciative of the actions taken by the command of the SPLA in taking prompt actions,” he said.

Deng, a well-known academic, was detained and questioned for several hours following his arrest on 14 December 2014.

At the time of his arrest he had been conducting a UK-funded research on strengthening institutions of accountability in South Sudan.

Army spokesperson Col. Philip Aguer later blamed the incident on a series of misunderstandings.

A senior member of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Deng also served as national minister for cabinet affairs in Khartoum until he resigned after the Sudanese government invaded his home region of Abyei.

Claimed by both Sudan and South Sudan, Abyei remains a contentious issues issue between the two neighbours and its fate currently remains unresolved.

(ST)

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