Johannesburg – Ensure a legitimate process. Eliminate growing tension
South Sudanese authorities arrested at least 22 political and military personnel in the wake of violent clashes that began between the government and armed groups in the Upper Nile in mid-February 2025, Human Rights Watch said today. These recent developments have plunged the country into a political crisis. “The authorities must immediately clarify the fate and location of detainees and ensure their rights to the appropriate process, including bringing them to the front of a properly organized and impartial court.”
Those arrested from March 4 are alongside First Vice President Riek Machar, head of the opposition People’s Liberation Army of the Sudan (SPLA-IO). The timing of these detentions coincided with the political crisis of the Nile River on the Northern Nile, where clashes between government forces and armed youth militias, also known as white, drove away thousands of civilians. The area is home to supporters of Machar, who have long opposed President Kiel.
The South Sudan government should immediately end the forced disappearance or immobilization of all persons associated with the opposition parties, which have been detained since the first week of March, ensuring that they fully and strictly respect their rights to the legitimate process, Human Rights Watch said.
On March 4, military authorities arrested and detained Lieutenant General Gabriel Duop Lamb, the deputy chief of staff of the Unified Army Structure, who serves as SPL-IO’s representative chief of staff. Authorities also disarmed and detained five of his bodyguards, a reliable source said. The location of the six men is unknown. Following detention or other deprivation of individual liberty, it refuses to grant detention or reveal the fate or place of a person deprived of their liberty, constitutes a forced disappearance under international law.
On March 5, at 2am, Armed National Security Agency (NSS) officials, along with at least seven other people, took Oil Kang Chol from his home in Juba and ousted him without explanation, a reliable witness said. The seven are: My friend, Kamilo Gatmach. Bodyguards Nelson Maroo, Kuntuz and Peter Magon. family members of three, Koang Puk, Biluny Puk and Buay Thiechuong. NSS officials first arrested Chol at about 11pm on March 4th, one of the bodyguards, but they brought him back, a trusted witness said.
The eight men were originally held at the NSS Riverside (Operations) facility and then moved to the NSS headquarters, also known as the Blue House, trusted sources say.
On March 6, the NSS arrested Thomas Jal Thomas, a police assistant inspector, and arrested his agent, James Duop Gatlik, in their office and took them to the Riverside detention scene, but released them hours later, according to reliable sources.
That same day, 11 armed NSS officers took Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuhl from his office along with three staff members, witnesses said. They bundled them together with other armed officers into two land registrants’ pickup trucks to drive them away. The four men were released early on March 7th.
Also, on March 6, NSS officials arrested and detained Mam Pal Dhuor, a member of SPLA-IO at Juba International Airport, and tried to board a flight to Kampala, a reliable source said.
Meanwhile, Nasir’s situation has deteriorated. On March 7, an armed man attacked the UN helicopter on a mission to rescue Nasir’s wounded soldiers, kill the crew and injure two others. President Kiel also announced that famous army general Majur Duck and 27 other soldiers to be evacuated were also killed during the attack.
On the same day, the Army issued a circle seen on Human Rights Watch, deploying its troops at six major road junctions leading to the capital Juba. The massive deployment at Riekumachar residence in the evening is clearly ongoing.
Riek Machar spokesman Puok Baluang told Human Rights Watch that as of March 10, he knew 22 men from SPL-IO, including party members, staff, families and bodyguards detained by the NSS and military intelligence.
Media reported that Nasir County Council SPLA-IO member Gatwech Lam Puoch was arrested on March 11th and is in custody at the Blue House.
NSS and Army spokesmen did not respond to requests for comment. At a press conference on March 5, Information Minister Michael McQuay Russ said, “If someone is arrested, there’s a reason for that.” And on March 8, an NSS spokesman announced that he had arrested people who confirmed their connection to the situation of the ‘broad’ intelligence reporting agency with Nasir, Ulang and its surrounding areas and promised more arrests.
National Security Services operates with limited legal and judicial oversight and de facto immunity. The service is responsible for the enforced loss of failure and for the immortal detention, torture and abuse of detainees. In addition, monitoring is carried out illegally.
The government will amend the definition of “crime against the state,” exclude security authorities and restrict the powers of people to arrest and detain, search, seizures and surveillance, and in line with constitutional and international human rights standards, Human Rights Watch said.
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The government has defeated allegations of crimes against the state, including treason, the release of false information, and the shaming of the president, limiting freedoms of expression, assembly and associations, including the peaceful exercise of political opposition and public criticism of national policy and action. Prosecutions and trials have been undermined by human rights abuse and political interference.
The government must immediately release the basis and evidence to justify recent arrests. All detainees should be taken immediately before an independent judge to scrutinise the legality of the arrest and to determine whether it should be released or whether it can continue to be legally detained.
The international community, including the United Nations, the African Union and Intergovernmental Authorities on Development (IGAD), should press South Sudanese authorities to support human rights.
“The South Sudanese authorities should stop arbitrary detention of opposition members and other actions equivalent to harassment and should not use security agencies as a tool of oppression,” Pur said. “International and regional actors such as the African Union should advocate for authorities to maintain their human rights obligations when trying to eliminate political tensions.”
