Yakani reacts to Abraham Chol’s release

JUBA, MARCH 29, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s prominent activist Edmund Yakani has issued a statement welcoming the release of religious leader Abraham Chol who was set free on Tuesday after being kept in detention for nearly two years.

Chol was arrested in July 2021 after stating in one of his prophesies that President Salva Kiir Mayardit and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, would no longer be in the helm by the time when the country commemorates its 10th independence anniversary on 9th July 2021.

In January, Chol was sentenced to more than two and half years in jail by a special court in the country’s capital Juba after having been found guilty of “insulting” President Slava Kiir Mayardit, but he was released on Tuesday morning by the government.

In a statement, Yakani who is the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) welcomed Chol’s release and warned that continued restriction of the civic space may be a trigger for violence, not only in South Sudan, but in the African continent.

“CEPO welcomes the release of Abraham Chol from detention. It is an issue associated with freedom of expression and opinion. This practice of restricting freedom of expression and opinion is a great trigger for political instability in the AU society,” he said.

“The release of Abraham Chol closing the gaps of illegal detention of individuals,” Yakani said, further demanding “the release of activist Morris Mabior who was kidnapped from Kenya.”

“Since the country is heading towards a political transition from violence to peace, it is essential that civic and political space is open and remain unrestricted for successful and nonviolent political transitional processes,” he stressed.

Yakani further called on “our political leaders and security actors to respect the resolution 14 of the 6^th Governors’ Forum dated December, 2022.

“Since president declared political commitment for the conduct of elections by December 2024 than opening civic and political space for winning the trust and confidence of the citizens on the electoral process is secured.”