The family of James Ernest Makuei, the Commissioner of Jur River County in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, is calling on authorities to clarify the whereabouts of their relative, who was reportedly arrested on Friday.
According to family members, Mr. Makuei was taken into custody by National Security forces in connection with recent clashes between joint security forces and SPLA-IO forces in Kaburi-Ngab. The fighting erupted over the alleged reopening of an illegal checkpoint in the area.
In addition to Makuei’s arrest, State Security Advisor Marko Peter Achor was also reportedly detained and transported to Juba by security agents on Thursday, further heightening tensions in the state.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Sunday morning, Alfonse Ernest Makuei, the brother of the detained commissioner, urged the government to either relocate his brother to a safer location or bring him to court if charges are being brought against him. If no charges exist, he demanded that Makuei be released.
“Our brother received a phone call from the National Security Service at 2:00 PM on Friday and was subsequently arrested,” Alfonse Makuei said.
“As of now, we do not know where he has been taken. We visited the National Security office, but they refused to provide any information about his whereabouts. We are calling on both the state and national governments to intervene. If he has committed any crime, he should be taken to court,” he added.
Alfonse also expressed concern about his brother’s health, citing his ongoing battle with diabetes and the need for proper medical care. “He is unwell and requires attention. I urge the government, civil society, and human rights organizations to intervene,” he said.
“If he has committed an offense, he should be tried in court. If not, he should be released as per the law,” he added.
Meanwhile, Stephen Robo Musa, a civil society activist in Western Bahr el Ghazal State, condemned the violence surrounding the closure of illegal checkpoints in the state. He emphasized that such actions should not lead to violence and that civilian lives should not be affected.
“It’s unacceptable that these issues result in clashes, displacing civilians. We’ve seen similar incidents in Bou, Western Equatoria, and now in Jur River County. As civil society groups, we attribute this to a lack of communication, non-compliance with orders, and inadequate cooperation between different government factions,” Musa said.
“We demand accountability from those responsible. Furthermore, we call for calm, especially as the rainy season approaches and farmers prepare for cultivation.”
Government officials in the state could not immediately be reached for comment.
The arrest of the Jur River County commissioner reflects ongoing unrest in the state over the removal of illegal checkpoints and broader tensions between the South Sudanese army and the opposition SPLA-IO.
Although any detainee must be brought before a judge within 24 hours according to the country’s constitution, this rarely happens.