South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) on Friday arrested Tot Jock Chieng, Unity State’s Minister of General Education, at Juba Airport as he prepared to board a UN aircraft to return to Bentiu, the state capital.
Chieng, a member of the opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), was traveling with Unity State’s Deputy Governor Tor Tungwar Kueiguong when NSS agents blocked the delegation from boarding the flight.
Eyewitnesses said the officials were instructed to return to their residences, but Chieng was arrested and taken to an undisclosed location.
Dhoal Koryom Linding, SPLM-IO’s Unity State Chairperson of Information, confirmed the arrest to Radio Tamazuj, describing it as “unreasonable” and criticizing the lack of transparency. “Our member was arrested without explanation and taken to an unknown location. We condemn this action, which mirrors recent arrests of other SPLM-IO officials,” Koryom said.
In a separate statement issued on Friday, the Office of the First Vice President of South Sudan and Chairman of the SPLM/A-IO confirmed the incident, stating that the NSS had obstructed the delegation’s travel at approximately 09:30 AM and arrested Chieng without justification.
“This incident represents a continuation of the NSS’s pattern of detaining constitutional post-holders and senior officials of the SPLM/A-IO,” the statement read.
The SPLM/A-IO called for Chieng’s immediate release and urged respect for the rule of law and political rights.
Government Spokesperson Michael Makuei was not immediately available for comment.
The arrest of the state minister comes amid escalating tensions between South Sudan’s government and opposition forces led by First Vice President Riek Machar. Recent clashes between the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) and SPLM-IO fighters in Nasir County have heightened instability.
The conflict, rooted in political and security disputes, intensified after President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed several SPLM-IO officials in early February.
Violence flared in mid-February when SSPDF clashed with SPLM-IO forces in Nasir, leading to the deployment of additional government troops. On March 4, armed youth linked to Machar’s SPLA-IO captured a military base in the area. Tensions escalated further on March 7 when a UN helicopter evacuating SSPDF soldiers from Nasir came under fire, killing army commander Major General Majur Dak, a UN crew member, and others.
The incident prompted a heavy SSPDF deployment near Machar’s residence in Juba and the detention of several SPLM-IO figures, including the deputy army chief and a national minister.