SPLA-IO Accused of Detaining Civilian Boats, Demanding $4,000 Along Sobat River ‎

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‎ Boat ferrying civilians  Nasir, Upper Nile State  ‎Authorities in Nasir County, Upper Nile State, have accused forces loyal to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army In Opposition (SPLA-IO) of detaining civilian riverboats and demanding ransom-like payments of up to $4,000 from traders and passengers along the Sobat River. ‎ ‎According to Nasir County Commissioner James Gatwech Joak, several boats traveling from Matar in Nasir County to Malakal were intercepted by SPLA-IO soldiers in Yakuach, an area in Nyirol County, Jonglei State. ‎ ‎“Our traders paid local taxes to SPLA-IO in Mandeng before setting off. But on reaching Yakuach, they were detained again and told to pay an additional four thousand U.S. dollars,” Commissioner Gatwech said. ‎ ‎He explained that the detained boat operators and traders were reportedly held for four days while armed men demanded more payments.  ‎ Some of the passengers were women, children, and patients traveling for medical treatment in Malaka...

Government Officials Detained By SPLA-IO Forces In Ayod County Have Been Released




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Government Officials alleged to have been detained by SPLM-IO forces while on a peace envoy in Ayod County have been released. 

Those detained at Ayod County of Jonglei State are: Juach Gathoth Ayod County Executive Director and Ayod County SPLM Secretary General Tot Kai Teny. 

Ayod County Commissioner James Chuol Jiel while speaking to the media confirmed that the officials have been released. 

In his own words Ayod County Commissioner said that: “Last week, I sent a delegation led by the county executive director on a peace mission to Mogok because there was tension over cattle rustling with our Nyirol neighbors,” Chuol said. “But as the delegation arrived there, they were detained by an SPLA-IO commander called Thomas Diang."

He said that he sees no reason for the continued detention of the officials: “There was no reason for their week-long detention and they were only later released following negotiations by a delegation from Juba and Bor.”     

One of the government officials was detained Mr. Tot Kai while speaking to the media said he needs thorough investigation to be conducted as to why they were detained. 

“We were a delegation of 11 led by the county executive director, and included the county finance director plus three women representatives and then security guards. Our mission was to preach peace so that our youth do not revenge because of a cattle raid carried out by a youth group from Nyirol County on December 19,” he said. “However, on reaching, we were detained for almost nine days. We were not investigated and there was no reason for our arrest. So, we want an investigation into this incident."-Kot Kai said. 

SPLA-IO spokeperson in Jonglei denied the allegations saying no officials from the government were arrested in Ayod. 

Lt. Col. Khor Nyang is the SPLA-IO Spokeperson in that region, he said that: “Those people moved from Ayod town to the area without communicating with our commander. After this message was intercepted, they were told to hold on because there was an ongoing youth mobilization and our leadership wants to stabilize the area first but they refused and came,” he said. “So, what happened was they were not arrested. There were at the compound of our commander for their safety because if anything was to happen to them we could have been held accountable since the area is under our control.” Lt.Col. Khor Nyang Mabor said.   

Ayod is a town in Jonglei, South Sudan, headquarters of Ayod County. The Nuer people are the main inhabitants.Riek Machar, first vice-president of South Sudan, is the 26th son of the chief of both Ayod and Leer.



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