The Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), a continental membership forum for African lawyers, has sued South Sudan’s government at the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) in Tanzania over the detention of South Sudanese businessman, Kerbino Wol.
Wol was arrested by National Security officials in the capital Juba in April and had been held without charge ever since. He was accused of masterminding prison riots in which inmates protested against lengthy detentions at Blue House early this month.
Donald Deya, the Executive Officer of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), told Radio Tamazuj on Friday that they want the regional court to compel the Attorney General of South Sudan to promptly come to the court and to produce Wol before the court.
“We have focused on the issue of Kerbino Wol because we got instructions from many of his associates. We know that there are many people who are also affected, but if Wol manages to get out though this court process, many people will also be able to get out,” he said.
Donald further said South Sudan’s Attorney General has not yet responded to a letter sent by the East African Court of Justice on their law suit on 12 October.
“The law gives the government 45 days in order to respond, so we are still waiting to see what kind of response they will give,” he said.
He pointed out that they will be monitoring the situation very closely and will file additional motions at the court, should there be any disobedience of the court’s order.
The group called on the government of South Sudan to stop the attacks and seizure of Mr Wol’s businesses.
Last week, South Sudan authorities seized businesses linked to Kerbino Wol and ordered all bank managers in Juba to close his accounts.