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| South Sudan’s mining minister Martin Abucha |
JUBA, April 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan’s Mining Minister Martin Gama Abucha who was arrested by security agents in Nimule has been released after two hours in detention, a senior military officer said.
Gen. Abucha was arrested on Saturday afternoon while travelling to the Adjumani District of Uganda.
Security agents reportedly followed the national minister’s convoy from the Loa area before intercepting him at the border town of Nimule.
The SPLA-IO commander in charge of the Anyanya Division at the Achwa cantonment site confirmed Gen. Abucha’s release to Radio Tamazuj.
Brig. Gen Okeny George M Lam said the minister was released following intervention from Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) in Torit Town. CTSAMVM is the multinational body that monitors compliance with the South Sudan peace agreement signed in 2018.
The SPLA-IO general blamed the security forces along the Juba-Nimule highway over what he termed as political parties’ affiliation.
The spokesperson in the office of First Vice President Dr Riak Machar also confirmed the minister’s release and said Gen. Abucha has proceeded to Uganda.
It remains unclear why the minister was arrested and detained by the security forces.
Gen. Abucha who was appointed into the ministerial post under the SPLM-IO ticket is also the party’s representative at the security mechanism, CTSAMVM. — NNN-AGENCIES
