A 16-year-old boy and his cousin were arrested for unclear reasons by Military Intelligence agents in Wau town in South Sudan’s Western Bahr al Ghazal State on Sunday.

Rania Lamberto Ismail, a sister of the two detainees, identified them as Nicola Lamberto Ismail, aged 16, and his cousin Ismail Makeshwal Kamilo.

She told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that her brother and her cousin were initially detained in police custody at Suk Al-Jou in Wau, but were later transferred to an unknown location.

“My brother Nicola, aged 16, was arrested in a police prison, but when the family learned about it they sent his cousin to confirm it, but the authorities also arrested him,” she explained.

“I went to the police to inquire, but the police said they are not responsible for their arrest, but when I asked some of the detainees in the prison, they told me that my two brothers were taken by Military Intelligence officers,” she added.

Rania expressed her concern about Nicola’s health, saying he suffers from heart disease and sinus infection. The girl called on the local authorities in Wau to disclose their whereabouts or take them to a fair trial.