Rights group Amnesty International said at least 20 men have died at three separate detention centres in the South Sudanese capital, Juba between February 2014 and December 2016, while urging President Kiir to release all people allegedly detained without charge by the security service.
In an open letter to Kiir today, Salil Shetty, Amnesty International’s Secretary General said government must release all detainees who are still being held without charge, including 28 men currently held at the headquarters of the national intelligence service in Juba.
The call comes days after President Kiir promised to pardon all political detainees in a bid to create a conducive atmosphere for an inclusive national dialogue in the country. Kiir made the statement during the day of national prayers on March 10, 2017.
“Hundreds of people, mostly men, have been arrested without charge by security agents and held in torturous conditions for long periods of time, since the conflict began more than three years ago. Others have disappeared without a trace at the hands of National Security Service and Military Intelligence agents,” said Shetty.
“While President Kiir’s pledge was welcome, we call on him to go a step further and order a full investigation into arbitrary detention practices of government security agencies, enforced disappearances, deaths in custody, torture and other ill-treatment.”
Radio Tamazuj could not reach President Kiir’s press secretary to comment on Amnesty’s claims.
Photo: NSS headquarters