South Sudan armed opposition protests arrest of its members in Aweil

April 24, 2016 (JUBA) – Governor of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) for Northern Bahr el Ghazal state has protested the arrest of their members in Aweil town, the state capital, warning that such an act undermines implementation of the August 2015 peace agreement and social harmony.

Akol Madhan Akol, SPLM-IO’s governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, said 119 people have been arrested for no reason in different places in the area and taken to military headquarters in Wunyiik, even though they are not soldiers.

“It is unfortunate our people continue to be targeted and arrested randomly by the government at the time we are working hard to implement the agreement. After signing the peace agreement, the government and us are supposed to work as peace partners, not as enemies any more,” said Akol.

“The desire of the people is peace; unfortunately it seems the desire of some people in the government is totally different. As I am speaking to you some of our members and colleagues have been arrested and have not been released since they were arrested more than two weeks ago. There was no reason for their arrest. Their only crime is that they are members of the SPLM-IO. This is the only reason for their arrest,” he said.

Akol said he wondered why actions of some people in the government have been contrary to what they said with regards to the commitment of the government to the implementation of peace agreement which it signed with armed opposition under the leadership of the first vice president designate, Riek Machar.

“Such actions speak much about the intention of some people in the government. Their actions are sending out wrong messages to the people and indeed people are now confused, because when government officials and military officers are involved in mass arrest of innocent people, what message does it send. It means these people are not for peace. They are preaching war instead of peace,” lamented Akol.

He expressed doubt whether President Salva Kiir was still in control, given the way some people in government could do anything they wanted to do without his knowledge and approval of their actions.

“The agreement is very clear but there are people who are not happy with it and they want the agreement to not be implemented because they are aware it will interfere with their interest,” he said.

(ST)