SPLM-IO official held in Lakes State for months without charges

RUMBEK – A senior member of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) remains detained in Lakes State’s capital, Rumbek, for an extended period without formal charges.

Adhum Achol Geu, also the deputy chairman of the Lakes State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) on the opposition party’s ticket, was arrested on September 10, 2023, in connection with the killing of the RRC’s chair.

Hon. Dut Marial Chahoc was fatally shot on Friday, September 8, 2023, by a watchman at the RRC compound.

Subsequently, an exchange of gunfire between the watchman and security forces led to the watchman’s death as well.

Government officials suspected Geu’s involvement in the commission head’s murder, a claim refuted by his colleagues who deny any association between Geu and the incident.

Lakes State information minister Paul Chabiet Ayang confirmed Geu’s arrest, along with other officials, and announced the formation of a five-member investigation committee led by the state gubernatorial advisor Benjamin Mabor.

“The investigation is still ongoing. So far, there are people arrested, and the state government has formed a committee at the level of the government closely working with the police and the state security to investigate the killing of the state RRC chairperson,” Ayang stated.

He said the committee -formed in December – has a three-month mandate which he said will elapse in February.

“The work of the committee is still in progress, and it was formed in December last year. It has a duration of three months, which will elapse in February this year,” he added.