By Sabri Dibaco
Civil society activists have urged the government of South Sudan to release detainees or present them before a competent court of law.
Speaking to the media, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization, Edmund Yakani, said prolonged detention without trial undermines public confidence in the justice system and violates constitutional rights.
He called on authorities to either formally charge detainees, release them if there is insufficient evidence, or grant forgiveness where no legal conflict exists.
“If the political detainees are not in conflict with the law and they cannot be presented before a court of law, there is a need to forgive them and free them to enjoy their human rights like any other citizen,” Yakani said.
Some of the detained officials include former Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel and former National Security Director Akol Koor Kuc, among others.
Yakani also appealed for due process in the case of Akol Koor Kuc, the former Director General of the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service.
“We are calling on the government to respect the rule of law by presenting all detainees before a court of law, including former Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel and the former Director of National Security,” Yakani said, adding that justice must be seen to be done through legal procedures.
In November 2025, President Salva Kiir issued a decree removing Benjamin Bol Mel from government and the army, dismissing him as Vice President and deputy chair of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), demoting him from general to private, and expelling him from the National Security Service.
No replacement was named, and the government offered no explanation for the move, which was followed by Bol Mel’s arrest and continued detention without trial.
Civil society groups argue that presenting detainees before court would strengthen transparency, accountability, and the credibility of state institutions.
They insist their demand is not politically motivated but rooted in constitutional principles.
“Our concern as civil society is about justice and accountability. South Sudan has laws and institutions that should be allowed to function,” Yakani added.
Activists also urged authorities to grant detainees access to legal representation and family members during investigations.
They believe court presentation would demonstrate the government’s respect for human rights and constitutional processes.
Civil society groups in South Sudan said they will continue advocating for transparency, accountability and respect for the rule of law, emphasizing that justice must be administered through established legal procedures.