Edmund Yakani, an activist, has called on President Salva Kiir to release detainee Kuel Aguer Kuel in order to demonstrate his recent Christmas message to citizens to ‘forgive’ one another.
The former governor of Bahr el Ghazal has been detained without charge for over four months.
He was arrested after signing the People’s Collation on Civil Action, which demanded a nationwide protest and the resignation of the unity government.
In his Christmas Eve message, President Kiir urged citizens to preach peace with zeal and to show unconditional love to others.
He also urged the people to show readiness to forgive those who had wronged them in the past.
According to an Eye Radio publication seen by NCMP, Edmund Yakani has stated that he is appealing to Kiir to keep his word by pardoning and freeing Kuel Aguer.
“As you close 2021 and turn the page to 2022, I know some people may have misled the nation, but we urge you to exercise the same message statement you made in your speech,” Edmund said.
“With due respect and honor, and on medical and humanitarian grounds, I take this opportunity to ask His Excellency, the President, can he release the detained former governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal whose health is deteriorating?”
“Please, let us be willing to forgive him and enable him to rejoin his family and live his life.”
According to the 2008 Code of Criminal Procedure, a person arrested by police as part of an investigation may be detained for a period not exceeding twenty-four hours for the purpose of the investigation. Members of the public have voiced discontent with the Unity government’s overall performance.
Kuel Aguer is not the only activist who has been persecuted by the state.
Following his arrest, several activists were forced to flee the country, and the organizations for which they worked were reported closed, with their bank accounts frozen.
Edmond also requests that President Kiir reopen such organizations.
“I’m urging the president to reopen the Sudd Institute for our colleagues in civil society whose organizations have been closed.” As a result, “these people do not represent institutions,” Edmund said.
