The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Secretariat in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, on Monday, said that their new member, Gabriel Bol Dut, has been released from detention.
Bol was, before defecting to the SPLM-IO, popularly referred to as “Bol SPLM” for being a diehard member of the SPLM party in which he served as secretary for popular and syndicated organizations in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in the past.
He, however, quit the SPLM two weeks ago and joined the SPLM-IO, saying the SPLM party had lost its vision, and mission and failed to deliver services to the masses.
After Bol’s arrest on 22 June, a source told this publication that he was called by unknown people at Aweils’ Maper Market and whisked away but that he was later detained by the National Security Service (NSS).
“Gabriel Bol Dut was arrested by unknown people at Maper Market and after a lot of struggle, we learned that he was first taken by the military Intelligence to Mathiang Barracks in Aweil town from where he was picked by the NSS,” the source who preferred anonymity said at the time.
However, the SPLM-IO’s state secretary in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Garang Wol Kon, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that Bol was released at around noon after the outfit struggled to have him freed.
“We have been trying as a party to have him released and he was set free today (Monday) around noon and he is currently with me in my office,” Wol said. “I want to say that arrests under unclear circumstances need to be stopped because joining a political party is someone’s choice.”
“No grown person should be intimidated for joining a party because they have a right to join any party of their choice,” Wol added.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Bol Dut commended his new party, the SPLM-IO, and everyone who advocated for his release and said he quit the SPLM party of his own volition.
“I want to congratulate the SPLM-IO leadership led by Dr. Riek Machar, our active SPLM-IO secretary in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, Garang Wol Kon Amuoi, and those who have been struggling for my release,” he said. “I also want to thank those who arrested me. I congratulate all of us because it was me who joined the SPLM party and it was me who decided to leave and join the SPLM-IO.”
A female relative of Bol said the family was ecstatic upon learning that he had regained his freedom.
“He is out from the detention cells today and we are very happy to see him back home again,” she said.