By Hou Akot Hou
A political defector from the Sudan People Liberation Movement (SPLM) is reportedly being detained by security operatives in Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Aweil, under unclear circumstances.
Gabriel Bol Dut, who recently switched his allegiance from the ruling SPLM party to main opposition SPLM-IO, has apparently been remanded since Thursday morning by security men in plain clothes.
The secretary general for SPLM-IO in NBGs, Garang Wol Kon, confirmed the detention of Mr. Dut to No. 1 Citizen daily newspaper on Friday via phone from Aweil.
He said that Gabriel got informed to go for questioning and ended up being detained.
Wol stated that they immediately rushed to where he (Dut) was detained, but the security officials denied them access.
“They took him yesterday, and we asked them to release him, but they refused. He is being held at Aweil town security premises,” he confirmed.
Mr. Gabriel Bol and Bona Bak Apeny, former SPLM senior cadres in Aweil, had recently joined forces and switched directions to the SPLM-IO to challenge the SPLM party for its failures.
Mr. Wol presumed that they (the SPLM) are unhappy with their two former senior cadres simply because they are talking about the missing services.
“Bona raised genuine concerns such as the lack of communication network in his area at Ayaai area in Aweil South County, and Bol is also having genuine concerns, which pushed them away,” he lamented.
However, the SPLM-IO secretary general for NBGs said he is determined that his colleague will be released as they are following up on the formalities.
He claimed that what led to Dut’s detention might be associated with his responses that he made on Facebook Live recently against the state SPLM leadership and leaders.
“Freedom of expression is everyone’s ultimate right, and they can’t be detained for that. They are looking for Bona Bak Apeny as well, but these are all unconstitutional procedures,” Mr. Wol stated.
The SPLM-IO and the ruling SPLM in the state are at loggerheads this month as defections are on the rise from both camps.