The group touched down at Juba International Airport on 16 November 2025, marking the end of a long period of uncertainty for the young cattle herders who had been held at Muzan Prison in Ethiopia.
Their release and safe return were facilitated through coordinated engagements led by the Office of the Senior Presidential Envoy for Special Programs, working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the South Sudanese Embassy in Addis Ababa.
According to an official statement issued by the Office of the Senior Presidential Envoy, the successful diplomatic negotiations underscore the government’s commitment to protecting its nationals abroad.
The Executive Director in the Envoy’s Office, Mr. Wol Akol, represented the Senior Presidential Envoy during the reception ceremony at the airport, where the returnees were formally received and handed over to the relevant authorities.
The Embassy of South Sudan in Ethiopia played a central role throughout the process, providing continuous on-ground consular support and working alongside Ethiopian officials to finalize the legal and administrative procedures necessary for the youths’ release, says the statement.
“The Senior Presidential Office expresses its profound gratitude to the Government of Ethiopia for its cooperation and efforts in facilitating the release of the detainees,” the statement read, highlighting the positive bilateral engagement that contributed to the outcome.
The case gained public attention in September when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced that the 27 youths had been cleared for release. The announcement came shortly after ministry spokesperson Apuk Ayuel Mayen confirmed that the government was engaging Ethiopian authorities to secure the freedom of the detainees.
The young herders, all from Eastern Equatoria State, were arrested earlier this year after allegedly crossing into Ethiopian territory without proper documentation.
Ethiopian authorities charged them under Article 243 of the Ethiopian Criminal Code (2004), which criminalizes unlawful entry, departure, or residence. The law prescribes penalties ranging from a fine to “simple imprisonment,” or both, depending on the circumstances.
