Members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army faction led by General Salva Kiir (SPLA-Juba) arrested a number of youth leaders in Warawar in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State’s Aweil East County and later handed them over to security personnel in Aweil town.
The exact cause and scope of the crackdown remains unclear, though it was described as an operation initiated from high authorities and involving a house to house hunt.
Atak Akoon, a relative of the chief of general staff of the SPLA-Juba, Paul Malong Awan, was one of the group youth arrested on Monday. He said he was surprised they were picked up and arrested on allegation that they have rebelled.
“Manut Yel Lual accused and reported us to the government that we have rebelled. I don’t know what shows we have rebelled. What I know is that he was removed from his position in Warawar and I was appointed to replace him. This angered him and decided to spread false information and reports about us and the whole community,” said Atak.
He said they have not yet been released but have been moved from Wunyiik military headquarters to Aweil town after several prominent community leaders protested the action of the army. They are now in the custody of the National Security Service branch in Aweil.
“Some of us remained in the detention and I and some colleagues were allowed to come and meet with the authorities here in Aweil town. We just met the acting governor, General Salva Chol Ayat. Our meeting with him was fruitful. We told we were surprised by the allegations and action of the army. He assured us that this issue will be addressed,” said Atak on Tuesday.
Aweil East County Commissioner Ngor Akok confirmed the arrests of the youth and said he and the acting governor had worked to expedite their release and transfer them from military detention to Aweil town where they will now seek how to address the matter.
“They are no longer under detention run by the military now. They are in Aweil where some of them met the acting governor today. These allegations are untrue. We do not have such reports. It was me who appointed Atak Akoon into that position,” said Akok.
“If there is a report [i.e. denunciation] about him, I should be the first person to be informed,” he added
Other youths arrested include Tong Hou, Aguer Ben, Akoon Deng Korjok, among others.
File photo: General Paul Malong Awan at Wunyiik in 2012