The National Security Service (NSS) has detained three members of the Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State Civil Society Network, including its Chairperson, Bulis Nguak, Secretary General Maria Angelo, and Treasurer Deng Teng Achien.
The arrests are reportedly linked to a petition submitted to State Governor Simon Uber Mawut last month, demanding the release of detained activist Dut Kuot Akok.
Peter Diing Ngong, a member of the network and Executive Director of the Wider Aid & Development Agency (WADA), told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that the three were targeted in the town of Aweil for their roles in advocating for the rights of Dut Kuot Akok, who has been critical of the Mawut administration.
“As I speak to you, Bulis Nguak, Deng Teng, and Maria Angelo are being held at the NSS headquarters in the Gabat residential area,” Ngong said. “They were summoned by the NSS to hand over the official stamp and constitution of the network. The chairperson refused, stating that they are an independent body.”
Ngong added that the arrests stemmed from a press release issued by Nguak last month, calling for the release of Dut Kuot Akok, who was detained for 35 days without investigation. He alleged that some members of the network had aligned with the government and sought to oust Nguak and seize the network’s stamp by force.
A member of the state security committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the civil society network’s general assembly had rejected the current executive board. The committee advised the network to unite, elect new leaders, and submit a report to the government by Thursday.
“The general assembly wrote to us stating that they have lost confidence in the leadership. We instructed them to elect new leaders of their choice and submit a report by Thursday,” the security source said.
The source added that Nguak and his colleagues faced legal action after the general assembly filed a court case against them, following Nguak’s refusal to step down.
Meanwhile, Malong Bak Malong, who claims to be the new interim chairperson of the network, said the trio had been suspended over alleged malpractices.
“These individuals were trusted to lead us, but they misused their positions. The general assembly impeached them, and I was appointed interim chairperson. We called on them to justify their actions, but they ignored us,” Malong said.
He denied any involvement in their arrest, distancing himself from the NSS’s actions.