Rumors Ripple Across Social Media
Social platforms lit up this week with claims that South Sudan’s Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and Deputy Army Chief Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam had been freed. The speculation traveled fast, feeding political intrigue in Juba and among the diaspora.
Activist Clarifies the Custody Situation
Edmund Yakani, head of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation, moved quickly to correct the narrative. He told reporters the two officials were merely relocated from National Security Service cells to a guarded apartment as a procedural measure.
“They remain in legal custody awaiting court proceedings,” Yakani stressed, adding that they briefly met First Vice-President Riek Machar and their lawyers before the transfer. Security agents, he said, will monitor the site around the clock.
Legal Road Ahead for SPLM-IO Leaders
Puot Kang and Duop Lam, senior figures in the SPLM-IO, face accusations of treason and murder after the White Army overran government positions in Nasir County in March, leaving Gen. Majur Dak and several soldiers dead.
CEPO urges a transparent, timely and public trial. “They must feel equally protected by the law without political interference,” Yakani said, echoing long-standing calls from civil society for consistent rule-of-law benchmarks in South Sudan.
Calls for Responsible Information Sharing
The activist asked diaspora communities to pause before forwarding unverified claims. He argued that misinformation can inflame ethnic tensions and derail fragile peace processes.
Observers note that social media remains a double-edged sword in South Sudan, amplifying both civic engagement and incendiary rumors. Digital literacy campaigns, they suggest, could help citizens discern credible updates from sensational conjecture.
What Comes Next
A pre-trial hearing is expected later this year, though no official date is fixed. Until then, the apartment detention underscores Juba’s desire to balance due process with security concerns, while activists continue to press for openness and calm discourse.