The family of the ousted governor of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria State Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro is demanding their son be released or his given rights including the right to know the charges against him and the right to a trial.

Dudu Bakasoro, who is Bakasoro’s sister, told Radio Tamazuj that her brother has been in detention for more than a month without any investigation or charge.

She said they managed to visit him in the last two weeks and that Bakasoro’s health condition was deteriorating.

Dudu pointed out that they petitioned President Salva Kiir’s office, National Security Service (NSS), and the Ministry of Justice to demand his release or bring him to trial and hire a defense lawyer.

In late December last year, Bakosoro was arrested after being summoned by NSS and has been held in the internal spy agency's Jebel headquarters ever since without charge or access to a lawyer.

A relative of former governor Joseph Bakasoro previously told Radio Tamazuj that they believe NSS arrested him on accusations that he is communicating with armed groups in Western Equatoria state.