(JUBA COUNTY) – Major General Akot Lual Arech, a former special presidential envoy on Pibor affairs and one time private secretary to President Salva Kiir, was arrested in Juba last Friday, triggering public concern and political debate. His arrest, confirmed by family members and community leaders, has been linked by some to growing political tensions surrounding South Sudan’s internal security and the role of foreign troops in the country.
Akot Lual, a respected figure from the Awan Chan community in Warrap State and a relative of the president, is known for his involvement in the 2014 peace talks that ended conflict between government forces and the SSDM-Cobra Faction led by General David Yau Yau. He was arrested alongside his relative, Akot Arech Bol, on 2 August in what community leaders are calling a politically motivated action.
John Mawien Maduok, chairperson of the Awan Chan Youth Union, described the arrest as unjust and concerning, saying it had sparked unrest among war veterans, community leaders and citizens across the country. In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, the youth group blamed Vice President for the Economic Cluster, Dr Benjamin Bol Mel, for orchestrating the detention in retaliation for Akot Lual’s alleged criticism of the deployment of Ugandan troops in South Sudan.
The group claims that the presence of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), reportedly under Bol Mel’s watch, has deepened internal divisions and increased political suppression. They allege that Ugandan soldiers stationed in the country are paid around USD 200 per day per soldier (equivalent to about 920,000 South Sudanese Pounds at the official rate of SSP 4,600 per dollar), while many South Sudanese soldiers continue to go without pay or receive significantly less. This disparity has raised serious concerns among citizens and military veterans.
“This is not justice. It is a calculated move to silence dissent and pave the way for Bol Mel’s alleged presidential ambitions,” the youth union stated.
The group further accused several high ranking officials of complicity in the arrest, including the Director General of the Internal Security Bureau and Major General Deng Akeen Deng.
The statement expressed outrage over what the youth described as the “humiliation” of an elder and respected figure, warning that such actions risk damaging the country’s social fabric and traditional respect for elders. They called on President Salva Kiir to intervene and address the situation, urging him to restore public confidence in state institutions.
“Let South Sudan be ruled by conscience, not connivance,” the group said in its concluding remarks, demanding the immediate release of Akot Lual.
Efforts to reach the office of Vice President Bol Mel for comment were unsuccessful. David John Kumuri, spokesperson for the National Security Service, said he had no information about the matter.
The arrest comes at a time of rising regional tensions. In March, South Sudan invited the UPDF to assist with internal security operations in Juba and the Upper Nile region, following renewed tensions between President Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar.
Last week, cross border clashes in Kajo-Keji County resulted in the deaths of five South Sudanese soldiers, further fuelling concerns about the presence and role of foreign forces.
