Members of the National Legislative Assembly from Equatoria on Wednesday have demanded that President Salva Kiir release the ousted Governor of Western Equatoria State Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, who is being held at a secret detention centre without charge.

MP Thomas Wani Kondo, speaking on Wednesday after a Caucus meeting at the parliament, said that the Caucus members represent the will of the people of Equatoria. “We need to know where Bakosoro is,” he said.

He added that if the former governor has committed any crimes he should be taken to the court rather than held without charge.

“While changes in the government is normal, we found that the removed governor is arrested. We are more concerned about the arrest of honorable Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro and the way he was arrested and his whereabouts is not known,” he said.

“If he is suspected of any crime by the people who arrested him, then he should be taken to the court and the court should be proved it, because a person is not supposed to be detained more than 24 hours. So we are more concerned that we need him to be released.”

File photo: Joseph Bakosoro with elders from Western Equatoria State