Suspects linked to murder of Mayom Commissioner arrested

Suspects linked to murder of Mayom Commissioner arrested

Suspects behind the murder of Mayom County Commissioner, Chol Gatluak Manime have been arrested.

The suspects, considered to be allies of the leader of the South Sudan People’s Movement-Army (SSPM/A), Gen. Stephen Buay, were captured on Saturday.

Press secretary in the Office of the Unity State Governor, Peter Bakuony, said the suspects were arrested between the borders of South Sudan and Sudan.

“The coordination that took place between the Unity State government and the Sudanese government of West Kordofan State succeeded in arresting the group, and their military ranks were between major-generals and brigadier general. Now they are in the prisons of the Unity State government, and we will see if they are tried here or in Juba,” he revealed.

Bakuony promised that the government would provide more information at a later time.

“We give good news to the citizens of Unity State that the group that was killing and spreading terror and security instability has been arrested by the state government and they are in prison now,’’ he said, adding: ‘‘you will enjoy security and stability.”

But in a rejoinder, SSPM/A released a statement on Saturday condemning the arrest of its senior officers in Fula, Sudan. He made sensational claims that the

“The arrest was by Sudan Support Rapid Forces (SRF) in coordination with South Sudan National Security Advisor Tut Gatluak, who has bribed colonel Taj Yusif,” SSPM/A noted in a statement signed by its press secretary, Luke Gai.

Gai claimed that the officers were arrested while on their way to visit their family members on the border with Sudan. He claimed that their arrest was a plan to revenge for the killing of the Mayom administrator, which, according to Gai, is against international and humanitarian laws.

“If our officers commit any crime in Sudan, they should be arrested and detained in Sudan and not be handed over to their opponent.’’

The arrested officers were Maj-Gen Nyuon Garang Kuol, Maj-Gen Pur Ruop Kuol and Brig Gatluak Majiok Liey.

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