SSPDF Kapoeta: Alex Lothian, Matthew Loteyo Arrest Sparks Disappearance Concerns

• Alex Lothian, an SPLM official, and Matthew Loteyo were reportedly arrested by SSPDF soldiers in Kapoeta town on October 30.
• Their whereabouts remain unknown, despite claims from military personnel that they were released the same night.
• The ruling SPLM party and community leaders have demanded authorities disclose their location and ensure their rights.
• Kapoeta's Mayor confirmed soldiers made the arrest but also stated they claimed to have released the men, with no further information on their current status.
• Families and community representatives express deep distress and call for urgent intervention and transparency from authorities.

This highlights the potential for South Sudan unlawful detention, where individuals are held without formal charges or judicial oversight.

On October 30, around midnight, Alex Lothian, who serves as the Kapoeta South County secretary for the ruling SPLM, and Matthew Loteyo were reportedly apprehended by soldiers from the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) at the Junction Inn Hotel in Kapoeta town while they were socializing. Following this reported SSPDF arrest in Eastern Equatoria, the whereabouts of both men remained unknown, sparking immediate concern among political figures, women's representatives, and local community members. The ruling SPLM in Eastern Equatoria State subsequently demanded clarity from authorities regarding their location.

Emmanuel Ephone Lolimo, the SPLM’s secretary for mobilisation in Eastern Equatoria, addressed a press conference in Torit, expressing the party's alarm over conflicting reports concerning the men. He stated that military personnel had informed the party that Lothian and Loteyo were released on the night of their arrest, yet their current location could not be determined. This discrepancy led Lolimo to question the validity of the release claim, emphasizing the public's need to know their true status. Kapoeta Municipal Council Mayor Lotede Lomuria Abraham also initiated inquiries after receiving reports of the arrest. He confirmed that soldiers acknowledged detaining the two men during night patrols but asserted they had released them after verifying their identities. Despite these claims, the Mayor's continued efforts to ascertain their whereabouts have yielded no definitive answers.

The ambiguity surrounding the Alex Lothian disappearance and Matthew Loteyo's status has raised significant questions about due process and fundamental rights. Emmanuel Ephone Lolimo of the SPLM explicitly called upon relevant authorities to disclose the men's location, guarantee their safety, and uphold their basic human rights. He further demanded their immediate release if no lawful grounds existed for their continued detention, or that they be presented before a competent court if any offense was suspected. This highlights the potential for South Sudan unlawful detention, where individuals are held without formal charges or judicial oversight.

Lolimo also clarified that the arrest did not appear to be linked to a recent incident in Nakeke, Kapoeta South County, underscoring the unexplained nature of their apprehension. The Mayor of Kapoeta Municipal Council, Lotede Lomuria Abraham, while acknowledging the soldiers' account of releasing the men, conceded that efforts to locate them remained unsuccessful. This situation underscores a lack of transparency and accountability from security forces, leaving families and political parties in the dark about the fate of the detained individuals.

The Alex Lothian Matthew Loteyo Kapoeta arrest has caused considerable distress within the community, particularly among their families. Eunice Nakwar Paul, chairlady of the Toposa Women’s Association, conveyed to Radio Tamazuj the profound anxiety experienced by the families, who lack any clear information regarding their relatives' fate. Nakwar issued an urgent appeal to the government, security authorities, and community leaders to intervene and provide crucial details about the two men, stressing the families' desperate need for answers, whether they are alive or not.

Despite the Mayor's assertion that the general security situation in Kapoeta is calm, with markets operating normally and residents continuing daily activities, the ongoing disappearance of Lothian and Loteyo casts a shadow over this assessment. The Mayor also rejected broader allegations of abductions in Kapoeta town, stating that these two individuals were the only missing persons reported to his office at the time. However, the inability to reach the SSPDF in Kapoeta for comment further compounds the lack of official information, contributing to concerns about potential Kapoeta human rights violations and the challenges of accountability for state security forces.

This incident highlights the persistent risks of arbitrary detention and lack of due process by state security forces in South Sudan, particularly in remote areas like Kapoeta. Lawyers advising clients or human rights organizations operating in the region should be aware of the challenges in obtaining information or securing the release of individuals detained without lawful grounds, and the potential for prolonged disappearances.

Source: Original reporting via news accounts.