By Deng Ghai Deng
The Jonglei Civil Society Network (JCSN), has raised alarm over escalating harassment and intimidation of its members by security forces.
This followed a forced closure of INTREPID South Sudan’s office by the National Security Service (NSS) on July 2nd in Bor town.
Peter Ajak Ayom, a prominent member of Jonglei Civil Society Network JCSN, lamented the impact of the closure on their initiatives, saying that civil society groups navigate an unwarranted environment, balancing advocacy efforts with the looming threat of further reprisals.
“The activities that are supposed to be implemented by INTREPID South Sudan have been interrupted since the day the office was closed. And until today, the office is still not open due to the reason best known by the National Security Service personnel who closed the office,” Ayom stated.
“Generally, the activities are disrupted, of course; somebody is not working in the office; you don’t have power; you don’t have internet; and other things you need from the office. This is making the work challenging; in fact, the work will not go because you can’t operate without your office.”
Efforts by JCSN leadership to engage with NSS officials have reportedly yielded no results.
Bol Deng Bol, Chairperson of JCSN and Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan has been forced into hiding since the closure of the office, underscoring the climate of fear and repression.
The closure of INTREPID’s office came after civil unrest in Bor, where public sector employees have protested delayed salaries and worsening economic conditions.
Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) has documented a surge in violations against civic space in recent months, including arbitrary arrests of journalists and activists.
Chol Kimani, a journalist, was detained by security officers in Bor on June 22nd and released without charge, while Abraham Aleu a photojournalist was arrested on June 29th in connection with peaceful demonstrations. Aleu has since remained in detention without being charged or produced in a court of law.
The office of Jonglei Governor Mahjoub Biel Turuk has faced criticism for its silence amid these incidents, raising doubts about the sincerity of his recent orders supposedly expanding political and civic freedoms.
Local human rights groups, UN agencies, and the South Sudan Civil Society Forum have condemned the closure as a plain example of shrinking civic and political freedoms in the country.