Activist Animu released on $2500 bond

JUBA – South Sudan controversial activist Afekuyo Animu Rasasi who has been detained by the South Sudan ministry of interior for almost two months has been released on Thursday after posting a 2,500 United States Dollars bond, her lawyer has said.

Popularly known as Animu Athiei, Afekuyo was arrested just before Christmas last year by men believed to be members of South Sudan National Security Service for allegedly having the South Sudanese nationality illegally and holding a passport which was not registered.

Speaking to Sudans Post from the capital Juba this morning, Philip Anyang said his client was released last Sunday after her health deteriorated inside the prison where she was being kept pending trial and has posted a $2500 bond.

“She has been released on bond. She has paid 2500 United States Dollars and this is because of her health which has been deteriorating while she was in prison and now we welcome her release though it is not full,” Anyang said

Animu was appointed to parliament in May on the ticket of the Other Political Parties (OPP), but her appointment was revoked by President Salva Kiir Mayardit after public uproar over her alleged Ugandan citizenship.

“When we received the nomination, we just endorsed it as it is. Eventually, there have been complaints from the community that there was an issue with her. So the party leadership has finally resolved that her nomination has to be put on hold or suspended,” Peter Mayen, the leader of the OPP said in May.

Two years earlier, Animu who was serving as a consultant in the office of Taban Deng Gai – then First Vice President – was fired over unclear circumstances, after an online disclosure of her alleged dual citizenship.

Ms. Animu has not come out publically to clarify the matters surrounding her nationality.

She has in many occasions represented South Sudan in international and local events.

According to the Nationality Act, a person born before or after 2011 shall be considered a South Sudanese National by birth if such person’s Parents, grandparents or great-grandparents, on the male or female line, were born in South Sudan; or belongs to one of the indigenous ethnic communities of South Sudan.

Chapter Six of the Act says if a person knowingly makes a false representation or false statement in reference to a material fact in an application for a certificate of nationality or certificate of naturalization, commits an offense and upon conviction shall be stripped of nationality, and fine, or imprisoned for a period not exceeding five years.