Claims that former Governor of South Sudan’s Jonglei State Denay Jock Chagor has been arrested in Juba are false, his former press secretary said.
Reports went viral on social media that the National Security Service had arrested the politician at his residence. Other reports suggested that he was denied travel abroad by the security agents.
However, speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday evening, Chagor’s former press aide Ruach Wanlow Kong denied the reports.
“I would like to refute the unfounded claims that the former governor has been arrested. Nothing has happened at all,” Kong told Radio Tamazuj by telephone.
He said: “The former governor is currently in Juba and the reports making round on social media are untrue. Those reports were written by someone who just wants to tarnish the image of Hon. Denay.”
“Also, it is not true that he was denied travel abroad. The former governor is in Juba for his own commitments, not because he was denied travel by the National Security Services,” he added.
Chagor had on May 30 expressed dismay over his removal from the governor position, calling on President Salva Kiir to reinstate him.
In a press statement, Chagor, who is the leader of the South Sudan United Movement (SSUM), under the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) described President Kiir’s decision as unilateral.
He rejected his replacement from the position, which he said was originally allocated to SSUM as part of the 2018 power-sharing agreement.
However, the position has now been given to the National Democratic Movement (NDM), led by veteran politician Dr Lam Akol.
Chagor’s replacement Mahjoub Biel has already taken oath of office as state governor and started working.