By William Madouk Garang
South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) allied to General Paul Malong Awan has delinked itself from the detained civil society activist, Samuel Garang Dut, citing that they don’t have any active member in capital, Juba.
Col. Philip Deng Kuol Nguot, SSUF/A Military Spokesperson said SSUF/A leadership wonders how the arrested activist have link with movement yet they don’t have any active member in Juba.
“The leadership of SSUF/A under Gen. Paul Malong Awan has learnt this unfortunate arrest of an activist Samuel Garang Dut made by South Sudan National Security Service accusing him of having a link with General Malong,” Nguot said in statement.
“First of all, remember SSUF/A is an armed group under an umbrella of NSSSOG who are yet to reach the peace deal with the government of South Sudan, so how is it possible for us to have our active members operating inside Juba?” he questioned.
Malong mouthpiece, Nguot claimed that it was an intended plan designed by security in order to harm the activist who exposes government’s malpractices to the world.
“You know, this is just an intended plan designed by SSNS in order to harm that activist because he is showing their activities to an international view,” he said.
He added, “In addition, the leadership of South Sudan United Front do hereby distance itself from having a link with detained activist as alleged.”
SSUF/A further called on the government in Juba to provide rights activists a room to positively and constructively criticize their performance as it’s happening in democratic world.
“Last but not least, we call upon an Amnesty International to exert pressure on Juba to unconditionally release Cde. Garang to his family,”
He was reacting to the arrest of Northern Bahr el Ghazal State-based activist Samuel Garang Dut who has been detained by Military Intelligence Directorate in Juba over alleged links to General Paul Malong Awan.
Garang’s wife, Achol Athiang, told media that her husband was arrested in November 2022 at Catholic University Campus, in the evening by Military Intelligence (MI).
According to Achol, Garang called a friend to pick him up from the university in a car and when they were driving off, soldiers in a pickup truck intercepted them and arrested the activist.
“Garang called his colleague to pick him up from the university campus and take him home and when they were leaving, the military personnel said they wanted Samuel (Garang),” she said. “His friend asked the soldiers why they were arresting Garang and they told him to visit their office. When he got there, he was told that Garang has been in communication with Gen. Malong.”
Achol denies any link between her husband and Gen. Malong and called for the immediate release of her husband.
Garang was dragged to court on defamation charges by Northern Bahr el Ghazal State Governor Tong Akeen Ngor in April 2021 after a post on his Facebook page accusing and criticizing the governor of constructing a private house in Juba using pilfered public funds.
He also alleged that the governor sold huge quantities of cement, steel, and iron sheets meant for drainage networks within and outside Aweil town.
Garang was found guilty in June 2021 by the high court in Aweil town and served an eight-months’ sentence. He was also ordered to pay SSP 2 million as compensation to the state governor in the defamation case.