The local command of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), the official army of South Sudan, has arrested up to 154 people in different parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal state.

Several local members of parliament as well as officials and relatives of the victims claimed the crackdown was carried out on the directive of the chief of general staff, Paul Malong Awan. The arrests have generated tension between citizens and the army.

A political dissident identified as Diing Deng Diing was arrested with twenty seven others in Aweil West County on 7 April 2016, while a politician called Makuei Makuei was arrested in Aweil County with eight others.

Similar developments were reported in Aweil Centre County where John Akuar, Chan Maraham, and Daniel Gar were arrested with 119 other political dissidents in Baau, Barmayen, and Alok.

Officials and relatives have given conflict accounts of the reason for the round up.

Several local legislators speaking Sunday and Monday said that the arrests were in response to allegations that some of the politicians have been recruited by SPLM-IO to recruit from the area.

Others claimed those arrested in Aweil Centre were critics of General James Ajonga, deputy chief of general for finance and administration, who is an ally of the chief of staff for Paul Malong.