South Sudan rebels allied to former First Vice President Riek Machar have detained a government official in Panyijiar County in South Sudan’s Southern Liech State after his chartered plane landed in a rebel territory in Ganyiel area on Tuesday.

 SPLA-IO spokesperson in Unity State James Yoach confirmed to Radio Tamazuj today that they have detained the Panyijiar County Commissioner Peter Gatkoi and his chartered plane at Ganyiel airstrip.

“On 27 December, a Tanzanian plane came from Juba, the plane was carrying the commissioner of Panyijiar Peter Gatkoi and it landed at Ganyiel airstrip,” said James.

“We have not killed that man,"he said. "We have just detained him and the plane, so they are now in safe hands after they landed in our area, the commissioner is being accompanied by three security guards and the pilot, “he added.

The rebel official pointed out that they will investigate the matter. “Our officials are investigating the matter, we want know more information from them because Panyijiar is our area, we should investigate it, because the plane came from Juba and landed in our area,” he said.

Yoach noted that the SPLA-IO officials are negotiating with the company that owns the detained plane. “I can assure you that the pilot is secure and our people are negotiating with the company that owns the plane in order to release the pilot and the plane,” he said.

In August this year, South Sudan rebels detained a Kenyan chartered plane and its crew in Yuai town in Uror County of Jonglei State.