Juba, South Sudan.
October 23, 2021—At least 20 Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) officers and civilians have been arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and some might have died in prison, according to a senior clergy, Bishop Alfred William Lasu.
According to Bishop Alfred William Lasu, the opposition officers and the civilians were arrested at bordering zones with DRC in areas that include Aba, Magoroho, Sunba, Nadiapai and Bayote between 2017 and 2021.
In a statement obtained by Nyamilepedia, Bishop Alfred William Lasu, the general overseer of Four Square Gospel Church in South Sudan, says the five SPLA-IO forces were imprisoned for years not exceeding five for crossing into the DRC territory with arms meanwhile the eight civilians were sentenced to a jail term running between three to five years after being charged with hunting in DRC land with arms.
The jailed opposition officers under country’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny are identified as Lt. Col. Moris Mungu Juma, 1st Lt. Simon Lomoro Abdall, Lt. Col. Salvatoria Benson, 1st Lt. Lou Steven Moris, Alfred Ladu while the civilians include Dawo Dato Magawa, Christopher Angbadimo, Samgdoligo Emma, Fungaro John, Cosmas Bidali, Mabe Karaba, and John Lokoroto.
According to senior cleric Lasu, most of the names of the prisoners were still missing and that they were working closely with the authorities in South Sudan and DRC to find out all the list of soldiers including those who passed away in the prison.
SPLA-IO spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel contacted by City Review and denied any knowledge of such information but said he heard a report of some South Sudanese being detained in DRC but their identities were not revealed.
“I did not hear about the report of SPLA-IO members being arrested but I got a report that some South Sudanese are being detained in DRC. If they are SPLA-IO members then we would need to find out from the government of DRC,”SPLA-IO Military Spokesperson Col. Gabriel told The City Review.
