A presidential pardon initiative intended as a gesture of reconciliation has been manipulated into a pay-for-freedom scheme at Juba Central Prison, according to a Radio Tamazuj investigation based on interviews with multiple current and recently released inmates.
On December 31, 2025, President Salva Kiir Mayardit ordered the release of 97 inmates across South Sudan, framing the act as one of “reconciliation and national healing.” However, the implementation of this directive at the country’s main detention facility was reportedly marred by systematic bribery, leaving eligible inmates who could not pay behind bars.
Pardons Contingent on Payment
More than 30 inmates were released from Juba Central Prison on January 7, 2026, with a further nine freed on January 11, bringing the facility’s total releases to 39, jail records show.
Some inmates told Radio Tamazuj that their pardons under the presidential directive were granted only after families paid substantial bribes to prison officials.
One of the nine inmates released on January 11, Nyong Dut (a pseudonym), said his family paid 400,000 South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) to secure his freedom after a direct request inside the prison.
“My elder brother was asked to pay, which my family did,” Dut said. “I witnessed colleagues left behind simply because they had no means to pay. I had to leave them suffering in prison.”
Dut alleged that internal disagreements and corruption delayed his release, which was initially scheduled before Christmas. He described overcrowded and inhumane conditions, stating, “People are dying in the cells due to diseases. The population is too high, and there is not enough space.”
“A Transaction, Not Mercy”
Other detainees provided detailed accounts of an opaque and exploitative process. Solomon Peter (a pseudonym), detained for two years, alleged that prison officials demanded between 500,000 and 1.5 million SSP for release as part of the presidential pardon.
“Those who had money were freed, while those who could not pay remained behind, regardless of the seriousness of their cases,” Solomon said. He claimed his name was on the original presidential pardon list but was replaced by another inmate who paid a bribe.
“If freedom is only for those who can pay, then the poor are condemned to die in prison for crimes they may not even deserve to continue serving,” he added. He cited severe overcrowding, noting that a facility designed for 500 now holds more than 4,000 inmates.
Joseph Malueth (a pseudonym), another inmate initially informed he would be pardoned, described the scheme as blatant discrimination.
“If the President granted a pardon, who has the authority to sell it? Why are the poor excluded while those who can pay are freed? This is not justice. This is not mercy,” Malueth stated. He called for an investigation and the reinstatement of the original list.
Accused Officials Silent
Joseph Benjamin, Director of the South Sudan National Prison Service, confirmed the release of 39 inmates from Juba Central Prison on the specified dates under President Kiir’s pardon. When presented with detailed allegations of corruption and bribery, he declined to comment.
The allegations drew sharp criticism from civil society. Dorothy Drabuga, Chairperson of the South Sudan Land Alliance, questioned the legal authority of officials to monetize a presidential pardon.
“If the President has issued a pardon, what authority do police and prison officials have to demand money from prisoners?” Drabuga asked. “This clearly points to corruption.”
She noted that many affected inmates were imprisoned for minor offenses and come from extremely poor backgrounds. Drabuga called on the government to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
“Authorities must not go behind a presidential decision to extort money from vulnerable prisoners. The pardon must be implemented without conditions. This is simply not right,” she said.
A presidential pardon is a discretionary act of executive clemency and is not a transactional process. The legal framework for such pardons is provided by South Sudan’s Transitional Constitution and the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Radio Tamazuj made repeated efforts to contact the office of President Salva Kiir for comment on whether it was aware of payments demanded for the implementation of the presidential pardon. Those efforts were unsuccessful.