RUMBEK – Four lecturers from Rumbek University of Science and Technology who were detained by South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) in Lakes State’s capital Rumbek on Saturday, were released on Wednesday, the university’s academic registrar said.
Mathew Malou Mariec told Sudans Post this afternoon that the release followed a meeting between university staff representatives and state authorities, including the acting governor and state security advisor.
“The demand that prompted us to meet with the acting governor and state security advisor at the state secretariat, the meeting was fruitful, and after we left, the four members of staff who were in detention were released after a one-hour meeting,” Mariec said.
He confirmed that the lecturers had resumed their teaching duties as the university continues with the first semester.
Makur Awan Maguang, the dean of students’ affairs at the university, who was among those detained, denied allegations that he had incited students to strike.
“We in academia, we are not for destruction, so that is an allegation,” Maguang told Sudans Post. “We didn’t incite the students to go on strike as it was alleged… and this led to my detention… I was very safe without being tortured. Now we are normal, and we are released and out now without condition.”
Garnop Makur, a member of the academic staff association at the university, expressed appreciation for the state government and security apparatus for the release of their colleagues and acknowledged the vice-chancellor’s role in advocating for their release.
He added that the academic staff association is still seeking a meeting with the university administration to discuss and resolve the issues that led to the misunderstanding.
“We are still calling for a meeting with administration for dialogue such that we can iron out some of the issues that arose as part of misunderstanding between administration and academic staff association,” Makur said.
He emphasized the importance of dialogue within the university community, stating that “If we kill ourselves all and we don’t come for a dialogue, we are still finishing ourselves without dialogue.”
He urged the vice-chancellor to engage with the staff to address their concerns.
Mariec indicated that the university administration is open to resolving the differences with the academic staff.
“Willingly, the university may sit down with academic staff and resolve the differences or misunderstanding which has taken place,” he said.
