The Bari Community (BC) in the United Kingdom has written to President Salva Kiir condemning what it called the unlawful arrest of former Juba City mayor, Kalisto Lodu Nyigilo Wani.

Security agents violently arrested the Lodu on 30 March from his home, according to his wife and family.

In the letter seen by Radio Tamazuj, the Bari Community in the United Kingdom said they are utterly shocked and dismayed by the unwarranted arrest and illegal detention of Hon Kalisto Lodu Nyigilo Wani on Saturday 30, March 2024.

“The arrest happened near his residence where Hon. Kalisto was mistreated in front of his family, a profoundly disturbing experience. The BC (UK) strongly condemns this unlawful arrest and demands for immediate and unconditional release of Hon. Kalisto. There is no recognizable basis, whatsoever, to warrant mistreatment of Hon. Kalisto and withholding of right to due legal process as a universal basis of justice,” the letter read in part. “The arbitrary arrest of Hon. Kalisto was planned by the security organs as he had been consistently airing concerns about the endemic land grabbing crimes happening in the Bari homeland that has resulted in untold loss of lives, uprooting of populations from their ancestral lands, and shattering of their livelihoods.”

“Your Excellency, the illegal land grabbing practices have reached worrying levels in Juba and the Bari heartland, and can no longer be tolerated because they dispossess the Bari people of their birthright,” it added.

The BC said speaking up against crimes and ongoing lawlessness is a duty of all citizens, particularly leaders like Hon. Kalisto.

“He should therefore be applauded for his courage in choosing to speak up for his people. The authorities in South Sudan should instead arrest the land grabbers who are well known and serving in the government, terrorizing the Bari people and causing insecurity, not Hon Kalisto,” the letter charged. “It is the land criminals that are threatening the security of the state and dividing the people of South Sudan on ethnic lines. Your Excellency, contrary to the official statements condemning Hon. Kalisto for voicing existential concerns of the Bari people, those in power in South Sudan should address the root causes of the land-grabbing crisis which is happening under the watch of authorities and connivance of the security organs of the state.”

The letter said that whilst the government is working tirelessly to provide security for the people, the territorial invaders and land grabbers are destabilizing the South Sudan state.

“As such, it is incumbent on the government to stop the land grabbers and encourage a free and just society in South Sudan, by promoting the right to hold an opinion and encourage sensible debate rather than intimidation of constituents as a means to dissuade dissent and silence contrary opinions,” the letter read. “In conclusion, the Bari Community in the UK strongly appeals to Your Excellency and the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGONU) to intervene for the immediate unconditional release of Hon. Kalisto Lodu.”