South Sudanese professor goes missing in Juba

Family members of a professor at the University of Juba are increasingly desperate for any word on his whereabouts after he vanished in Juba.

Family members of a professor at the University of Juba are increasingly desperate for any word on his whereabouts after he vanished in Juba.

Festus Abdel-Aziz James, a professor of medicine, was last seen in Juba on July 10.

Festus's wife, Rose Isaac, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday relatives and colleagues began a search for Mr. Abdel-Aziz and even visited police stations and hospitals where they were told that he was unavailable.

“Professor Festus was in the house alone. Relatives and police went and searched his home on July 11, but did not find him. It is believed that he had left his home to buy something from a nearby shop, but did not return,” she said.

“Since then, he hasn’t responded to calls or messages, and his phone doesn’t go through,” she added.

The family has pleaded for help to ensure his safe return.

“We believe that he is still alive because we haven’t found the body. We are unhappy about what had happened because there is peace in the country,” said Rose Isaac. “We appeal to the authorities to help us so that Festus can return to his children safely. All of us want to build a country where is the rule of law.”

Government officials were unavailable for comment.