Human Rights Watch reported the arbitrary detention of 22 political and military figures in South Sudan, urging an immediate cessation of such actions. The detainees are primarily connected to opposition leaders. Calls for transparency, due process, and international intervention were made to address these violations amid ongoing regional conflicts.
In mid-February, South Sudanese authorities detained 22 political and military figures, as reported by Human Rights Watch (HRW). This action allegedly contravenes human rights obligations. HRW called for an immediate cessation of arbitrary detentions, urging authorities to disclose the detainees’ locations and uphold due process rights.
The recent arrests primarily involve individuals affiliated with opposition leaders and First Vice President Riek Machar, including high-profile figures such as Lieutenant General Gabriel Duop Lam and Ministers Puot Kang Chol and Stephen Par Kuol. This pattern of detention raises significant concerns about the legality of such actions.
Nyagoah Tut Pur from HRW remarked on the concerning lack of transparency surrounding these detentions. He emphasized that such practices exacerbate instability in an already fragile environment and urged authorities to ensure that detainees are presented before an unbiased court.
The National Security Service (NSS), responsible for these detentions, has not provided any information regarding the detainees. HRW highlighted the NSS’s misuse of its extensive powers without appropriate legal oversight, calling for an end to enforced disappearances since March 4, 2025. The organization also seeks international intervention from bodies like the UN and African Union to urge South Sudan to stop these practices.
Article 2 of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance outlines enforced disappearances. Despite not being a signatory to the convention, South Sudan is still bound by international norms prohibiting such actions, deemed by the UN as universally applicable.
This wave of detentions aligns with government-clash incidents in the Upper Nile region of Nasir, leading to significant civilian displacements. The situation escalated on March 7 when armed forces attacked a UN helicopter, resulting in fatalities.
HRW’s report underscores the need for accountability and respect for human rights in South Sudan amid ongoing violence and political turmoil.
In summary, Human Rights Watch has condemned the arbitrary detention of opposition members in South Sudan, calling on authorities to reveal the detainees’ whereabouts and respect due process rights. The NSS’s failure to provide transparency exacerbates instability within the country, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts and the international community’s obligation to intervene against such violations. The urgency for adherence to international norms is critical to restoring human rights protections in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
