A political figure who said he was fed up with the ruling SPLM Party and joined the opposition SPLM-IO in Aweil has gone missing, raising concerns he might have been arrested.
Gabriel Bol Dut, formerly known as Bol SPLM due to his significant support for the party, once served as the secretary for popular and syndicated organizations in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
Mr Gabriel joined the opposition SPLM-IO led by First Vice President Riek Machar last week together with Bona Bak, who also held various positions in the ruling party in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) is led by the country’s president Salva Kiir Mayardit.
A relative of Mr Gabriel, who preferred anonymity, told Radio Tamazuj on Thursday night that Mr. Gabriel went missing in Aweil on Thursday afternoon. He said: “I heard from someone that some people called him at Maper Market, and from there, he was detained. I didn’t expect him out of home at this time and children are now crying, wanting their father.”
The relative said phone calls to Gabriel went unanswered.
Meanwhile, Garang Wol Kon, the Secretary-General for the SPLM-IO in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, said Gabriel was picked up and detained by unknown people in Aweil town.
“Gabriel Bol Dut was arrested by unknown people at Maper Market, and after a lot of struggle, we have learnt that he was first taken by the military intelligence in Mathiang barracks in Aweil town, and from there, national security officials picked him up from the military intelligence,” Wol said.
Bona Bak, who also quit the ruling party together with Gabriel, said: “Gabriel Bol has been arrested and I don’t understand the reason behind his arrest. So we are still working on it to find out the reason exactly.”
Government officials in the area could not immediately be reached for comment.
Despite South Sudan’s constitution requiring detainees to appear before a court within 24 hours, security officials frequently extend the detention period, including during investigations and subsequent trials.