A senior general in South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) has been detained in the capital, family members said Tuesday, in the latest high-profile arrest in a country grappling with internal political friction.
Maj. Gen. Manasseh Machar Bol, the former director of security and coordination at the Ministry of Petroleum, was taken from his home in the Jebel suburb of Juba early Monday, according to a family member who spoke to Radio Tamazuj.
The family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said security vehicles surrounded Bol’s residence at dawn.
“The family and the neighbors were shocked,” the relative said. “He was taken into custody without any explanation.”
The arrest follows Bol’s removal from his post a month ago. Officials with the National Security Service (NSS) and the Ministry of Information could not immediately be reached for comment.
Bol’s family suggested the detention may be linked to a broader crackdown on individuals who hail from Twic County in Warrap State. The relative cited several instances of surveillance and arrests involving members of the Twic community since December, specifically naming William Deng Dut Koor as another individual currently in custody.
The family has called on the government to either release the general or present him before a court. They also urged authorities to address longstanding border disputes involving Twic County.
Career and Oil Sector Influence
Bol is a veteran of South Sudan’s security apparatus and a pivotal figure in the country’s oil sector. During his tenure at the petroleum ministry, he oversaw security coordination for major oil-producing consortia, including DPOC, GPOC and SPOC.
In recent years, Bol’s name has circulated in Juba’s political circles as a potential candidate to lead the NSS Internal Security Bureau — a powerful intelligence position long held by Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, who is currently under house arrest in the capital. Beyond his military role, Bol has been linked to private enterprises, including Transco Energy Ltd. and Speed Insurance.
Past Investigative Scrutiny
Bol’s business dealings have previously drawn international scrutiny. The Sentry, an investigative group based in Washington, alleged that Bol held ownership stakes in companies that received millions of dollars in petroleum supply contracts and letters of credit.
Bol’s legal team and the South Sudanese government have formally denied those allegations, calling them inaccurate and misattributed. Bol was not a primary subject of the group’s 2016 report on high-level corruption.