One of South Sudan's most prominent academics, Professor Jok Madut Jok, was arrested and jailed in the capital Juba this afternoon.
Jok is well known as a vociferous critic of South Sudan government policies. He is the co-founder of the South Sudanese think-tank, the Sudd Institute.
The exact charges against the South Sudanese scholar have not yet been made public.
James Madol, a relative of Jok Madut Jok, told Radio Tamazuj this evening that Dr Jok was arrested at Juba International Airport by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Jok Madut was planning to travel abroad.
“Professor Jok was taken immediately to the main prison without investigations and court ruling. We don’t know the reason because the arrest was made without any arrest warrant,” he said.
“Those people refused to allow us to meet him in the prison. They also refused to talk to the lawyer,” he added.
Madol urged the relevant authorities to allow the family to know the reason for Jok’s arrest.
Government officials in Juba could not immediately be reached for comment.