Names of Government Officials Detained by the Rebels in Jiech, Ayod County, Jonglei state
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Head of South Sudan’s National Bureau of Statistics and Census Detained by the Rebels
February 3, 2015 – Isaiah Chol Aruai (Kongor, Twic East county), Aleer Longar (Nyarweng, Duk county) and Mading Akueeth (Biong, Bor county), are the names of the government officials detained by the rebels after UN chartered plane they were traveling in landed in Jiech, Ayod county, a rebel-held area, to collect more passengers on its way to Juba from Panyagor.
The three officials were part of the government delegation attending the enthronement of Kongor Diocese officiated by Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul.
Isaiah Chol Aruai, popularly known as Chol-amot, has been the head of the National Bureau of Statistics and Census, since its founding in 2005. The two other guys, Mading and Aleer, are said to be NGOs workers, and have nothing to do with the government. It appears their detention is based on the fact that they are Dinkas.
A source from the rebels side said that the three persons are currently under investigation to ascertain if they are spies sent by the government.
The plane is currently detained in Bor by state authority, who are demanding to know from the UN the circumstances the UN plane went to rebel-held areas with top government officials on-board.
Efforts are being made by the government, the UNMISS that own the plane and the church leaders, and by the rebel delegation in Addis Ababa, to ascertain the circumstances under which these officials found themselves in rebel-held areas on UN chartered plane and got detained.
Latest updates indicate that the three officials are alive and well in an undisclosed location in Ayod county, and may get release if everything goes well.
Since these officials hails from all the three sections of Greater Bor Dinka, the residents of Bor town are tensed, and this is likely to impact on the relationship between UN and local people who have already pointed accusing fingers at the UN as being complicit in the detention of the said officials.
The main worry is that it might cause a major problem between the Nuer IDPs in the Bor PoC and the local community should anything happen to the detained officials.
So far, people are waiting anxiously for their safe return; the mood may worsen if bad news occur, say if they are killed or detained indefinitely or used in rebel propaganda. Or, if the IDPs were to celebrate their captured, which they haven’t done.
So far, the rebels haven’t made any outrageous demand for their release. Previous reports had indicated that the rebels had demanded the cancellation of the June 2015 general election in the mistaken belief that it is the National Bureau of Statistics and Census that is in charge of it.
Talks are still underway on the unconditional and immediate release of the detained individuals as demanded by the government and the UN.
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Update 1: 9am, February 4th — The latest update from Juba, Addis Ababa and Ayod county is that Taban Deng Ghai, the rebel lead negotiator to the Addis Ababa peace talks, has personally made a call to Juba to inform and assure the government that the three individuals detained in Jiech, Ayod county, would be released soon, and may arrives in Juba today in the afternoon.
However, like most South Sudanese issues, this may turn out to be that….another dishonored pledge.
Update 2: 11.40am, February 4th— Speaking to SBS Dinka Radio this morning, Dr Majak Agot, former Deputy minister of Defence and member of the SPLM G10, said that the SPLM in Opposition is going to release the three hostages held in Jiec Payam of Ayod:
“I spoke with the SPLM in Opposition Governor Duop Lam an hour ago in Jiech and i can say that Isaiah Chol Aruei and the two comrades are in safe custody of comrade Duop Lam who promised to take good care of them. Comrade Duop Lam also promised to facilitate their evacuation to Juba as per the directives of the Chairman and Commander in Chief of SPLM/A in Opposition Dr Riek Machar Teny. It is to be recalled that Dr Machar and Honourable Isaiah Chol Aruei had been classmates for 8 years from Atar to Rumbek, they were colleagues in the struggle, in Governments after the CPA and Independence.
Iam doing everything i can to make sure they are release. The SPLM I O leadership have made unequivocally clear that they are going to release Hon Isaiah Chol Aruei and two others without any conditions. This is in the interest of peace, unity, reconciliation and healing of differences among the people of South Sudan and the interest of the Arusha Agreement. The SPLM in Opposition’s leadership have promised to release the statement shortly pertaining to the realise of honourable Isaiah and his two comrades.”
Update 3, 7.45pm, February 4th — Another dishonored pledge? The three guys are not yet in Juba, 7pm now. And tomorrow is the day…..according to the rebels….purportedly because the WFP chartered plane did not show up at Jiech, Ayod county. Another stated the delay is occasioned by the fact that Riek Machar has to personally signed the dipaachoda (departure order) for the plane to take off….another source say that the three “detainees), not G-3, will have to be taken to Addis Ababa for the handing-over ceremony to be officiated by Riek Machar. And then there is the other claim that the three individuals have been moved to a different location and this is the reason why it was not possible to locate and bring them back to Juba today.
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