(WAU) – The family of James Ernest Makuei, the detained Commissioner of Jur River County, is urging the national government to either present him before a competent court or release him without conditions, following months of incommunicado detention at the National Security Service (NSS) headquarters in Juba.
Commissioner Makuei was arrested in February in Wau, the capital of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, and later transferred to the NSS Internal Security Bureau, known as the Blue House, in Juba. He has remained in custody there without formal charges or court appearance, sparking growing concern among relatives and civil society actors.
Sources familiar with the case said Makuei, along with Western Bahr el Ghazal State Security Advisor Marko Peter Achor, was detained in connection to clashes that occurred at the Kaburi-Ngab checkpoint in Jur River County. The violence reportedly broke out after a government directive to dismantle all local checkpoints, which led to a confrontation between opposition SPLA-IO forces and NSS personnel.
Alfonse Ernest Makuei, the commissioner’s brother, appealed to both state and national authorities, stressing that the prolonged detention is unlawful and endangers his brother’s fragile health.
“I am appealing to the state and national governments that if there is a crime he committed, he should be taken to court because until now, we have not been informed about any cases opened against him,” he told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday.
He added that the family has been denied access to the commissioner since his arrest and highlighted his chronic medical conditions, including diabetes and hypertension.
“He had a serious operation before. I am calling on the government and all human rights organisations to join our voice so that the commissioner is arraigned in court.”
Alfonse insisted that his brother, if suspected of wrongdoing, should face justice in a civilian court and not remain in NSS detention.
“He should not be kept within national security. If he has committed a crime against the country, he should be taken to a court which will determine his fate,” he emphasised.
Civil society organisations have echoed the family’s demands. Stephen Robo Musa, a human rights advocate and Western Bahr el Ghazal coordinator for the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), called for the commissioner’s release or a lawful trial.
“We are adding our voice to that of the family of Commissioner James Ernest Makuei of Jur River County, who has spent a long time in detention,” Robo said. “If there are charges against him, he should be taken to court.”
According to South Sudan’s constitution, individuals under arrest must be presented before a judge within 24 hours. However, in practice, prolonged detentions without trial or legal representation are frequent.
As of July 2025, there has been no public update from the NSS or the national government regarding Makuei’s case.
