Sudd TV

SPLM-IO says member arrested by National Security during Riek’s trial in Juba

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) has accused the National Security Service (NSS) of arbitrarily arresting one of its members during the ongoing trial of suspended First Vice President Riek Machar and his co-accused in Juba.

According to a statement issued by the SPLM-IO National Youth League, Alfred Gatmai Koang, who serves as the Information Secretary for Mayom County’s SPLM-IO caucus, was detained by security operatives inside Freedom Hall shortly after returning from the washroom.

The statement said Gatmai had committed no offense and was at the court premises like other attendees following the proceedings. “He was handcuffed and taken to an unknown location,” the SPLM-IO Youth League spokesperson, Gattiek Wichar, said.

The opposition group accused the National Security Service of overstepping its constitutional mandate and systematically targeting outspoken youth leaders within the SPLM-IO as part of a broader effort to silence dissenting voices through arbitrary arrests and intimidation.

“The SPLM-IO National Youth League condemns in the strongest terms possible the unlawful and illegal detention of Alfred Gatmai and demands his immediate and unconditional release,” Gattiek said.

Authorities have not yet commented on the alleged arrest.