For months, Lam was a consistent voice for the opposition movement, issuing near-regular updates on military developments, rebuttals to government claims, and internal clarifications. But since early February, that voice has gone quiet.
His last known public communication dates back to February 3, 2026, when he dismissed reports circulating online that Lt. Gen. Alfred Futuyo, the SPLA-IO Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, had been arrested at an SPLA-IO cantonment site in Rirangu.
“This is completely false and should be disregarded. Gen. Futuyo is safe with the SPLA-IO forces under his command in and around Western Equatoria,” Lam wrote at the time.
Since then, there have been no verified statements from him—an unusual break from a figure known for frequent and often combative public messaging.
Arrest claims emerge
The silence might have gone largely unnoticed were it not for a dramatic claim attributed to Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces and son of President Yoweri Museveni.
In a statement dated March 22, 2026, a post attributed to Muhoozi on X (former Twitter) claimed that Lam had been arrested and placed under house arrest, accusing him of using Uganda as a base to wage a “propaganda” campaign against South Sudan.
“Let it be clear: Uganda is NOT a hiding ground for rebel forces… You cannot fight governments through press releases and expect to remain untouched,” the statement read.
The claim, if true, would mark a significant escalation, suggesting direct Ugandan involvement against an opposition figure from neighbouring South Sudan.
However, the statement’s credibility is difficult to verify independently. A check by this outlet found that the account from which the screenshot of the message was taken had been deactivated at the time of publication, raising further questions about its authenticity.
Muzoohi, a polarising military figure, is known for matching his actions with controversial social media posts. But it remains unclear if the claim about the SPLA-IO Spokesman aligns with that trajectory.
SPL/A-IO dismisses report
Meanwhile, the leadership of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), has firmly rejected the arrest narrative.
In a statement issued on March 23, 2026, Puok Both Baluang, Acting Press Secretary in the office of suspended First Vice President and SPLM/A-IO Chairman Dr Riek Machar, described the reports as “baseless propaganda.”
“Cde. Lam is safe, free, and continues to perform his revolutionary duties as usual,” Puok said.
The statement offered no additional details on Lam’s current location or why he has not been publicly active in recent weeks.
A silence that raises questions
Despite the official denial, Lam’s continued absence from public communication channels remains unexplained—and notable.
As SPLA-IO’s spokesperson, Lam has played a key role in shaping the group’s narrative, particularly during periods of heightened tension.
His updates have often served as a counterweight to government statements, especially during clashes in areas such as Western Equatoria and Jonglei.
His silence comes at a time when South Sudan is experiencing renewed insecurity in several regions, including escalating violence in Jonglei and Western Equatoria, as well as increased political uncertainty ahead of the planned 2026 elections.
Information war and credibility crisis
The conflicting claims surrounding Lam’s whereabouts underscore a broader issue: the growing role of unverified information in South Sudan’s conflict dynamics.
On one hand, a high-profile military figure from a neighbouring country claims an arrest. On the other hand, the opposition leadership dismisses it outright—without offering verifiable proof of Lam’s status.
Meanwhile, the disappearance of the source of the arrest claim—the deactivated social media account—adds another layer of uncertainty. In a country where information is often weaponised, the truth can quickly become obscured.
The unanswered question
For now, the central question remains unresolved: where is Col. Lam Paul Gabriel?
Is he quietly operating behind the scenes, as the SPLA-IO insists? Or is his absence linked to developments that have yet to be publicly acknowledged?
