Members of the SPLM/A-in-Opposition in Juba were arrested this morning by the National Security Service for seeking to mobilize people to turn out for a reception for their deputy chairman.

William Ezekiel, Spokeman of SPLM-IO in Juba, said they “were doing announcements for the public turnout and receive Alfred Lado Gore, Deputy Chairman of the SPLM-in-Opposition.”

“They are sixteen in number. They have been severely beaten. They started beating them right away when they were arrested,” he said, adding that they were taken to National Security headquarters.

The deputy chairman of the SPLM-/AIO Alfred Lado Gore is expected to arrive from Nairobi to Juba on Tuesday at around 1:00 p.m. Ezekiel said that Lado Gore will be accompanied by the Kenyan Minister of foreign Affairs.

“His coming to Juba I believe is a significant move in the process to implement the peace agreement on the resolution of conflict in South Sudan,” said the opposition official.

Photo: SPLM-IO members were using this lorry in Juba to mobilize people to the reception