South Sudan Arrests Suspects in Connection to Murder of Political Columnist

South Sudanese political commentator, Isaiah Ding Abraham Chan Awuol, who was shot dead by unknown gunmen in front of his house in Juba, early on the morning of Wednesday 5 December 2012. South Sudan says it has made arrests in the case. (Photo: Hayat), a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Friday 4 January 2013

South Sudan arrests suspects in connection to killing of political columnist

January 3, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Thursday announced it has arrested a number of suspects believed to be responsible for the assassination of a leading political commentator, Isaiah Diing Abraham Chan, or popularly known as Isaiah Abraham.

The political commentator was gunned down in front of his house in Gudele west area in the capital, Juba, in the early morning on December 5, 2012.

The president of the Republic, Salva Kiir Mayardit, ordered the security organs to carry out an investigation into the murder and to bring to justice those responsible for his killing.

He later also gave green light to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist in the investigations by employing its technical expertise in the area of investigations.

On Thursday the official spokesman of the government, Barnaba Marial Benjamin, announced to the press that a number of suspects are now in the custody of the security organs.

He said a joint group involving the police, military intelligence and national security assisted by the FBI carried out the investigations under the supervision of the judiciary organ.

Marial did not give a hint on the identities of the arrested suspects, but said the process was successfully going on to get all those responsible for the assassination.

The late was known for criticizing the government, particularly the top leadership, for the way the country was being governed.

A week before his demise Isaiah Abraham wrote a number of opinion articles which were widely circulated in which he called for the resignation of the President Salva Kiir Mayardit as well as cautioned the government to reconsider its relationship with the SPLM-N in order not to severe its relations with Sudan.