By Yiep Joseph
Civil society activist Ter Manyang has urged government to release Dr. Riek Machar and other political detainees ahead of Independence Day.
First Vice President and opposition leader Dr. Riek Machar was placed under house arrest in March amid escalating political tensions that followed conflict in Nasir, Upper Nile state.
Amidst several calls for his release South Sudan government insisted that Dr, Machar was in conflict with the law and is still under investigation.
With just a few days until July 9, South Sudan’s Independence Day, activist Tery Manyang, the Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA), expressed that the country’s 14th Independence Day, deserves to be celebrated through compromises, including the release of political detainees.
“If we are truly committed to peace, dialogue, and national unity, then releasing Dr. Riek Machar and other political prisoners is not just a political act, but a moral imperative. Let this Independence Day be a celebration of renewed hope and not continued division,” Manyang said.
He noted that political detentions not only increase mistrust among politicians but also delay healing and peaceful coexistence.
“We cannot build peace through detention. We must build peace through inclusion, forgiveness, and justice,” he stated.
Activist Manyang emphasized that the release of political detainees would serve as a powerful gesture of reconciliation and national unity.
He urged President Salva Kiir and the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) to demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace and healing as the country approaches this historic day.
Manyang expressed that political dialogue and the rule of law should guide the transition process. He warned that continued suppression of political voices could undermine long-term peace and stability in the country.
The activist’s appeal comes at a critical time as South Sudan continues to face political uncertainty, economic hardship, and humanitarian crises. Many South Sudanese citizens hope this year’s Independence Day will mark a turning point toward lasting peace.
Recently, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) reiterated its call for the immediate release of its chairman, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The main opposition party made this appeal to the African Union Panel of the Wise, who were in Juba to help de-escalate political tensions.
Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth stated that the First Vice President, the second highest official in the country, is in conflict with the law and is undergoing investigations.
“Dr. Riek Machar was arrested because he is charged with being in conflict with the law,” Makuei stated during a press conference last month, referencing alleged contacts between Machar and his bases that purportedly triggered unrest in March in the Upper Nile region.