SSPDF Military Detention Facility Legality: Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam Testifies

• Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam testified that the Jamus Ground military detention facility is an 'illegal prison' established to torture soldiers.
• The facility, operated by the SSPDF's Military Intelligence Directorate, falls outside the legal framework governing military detention.
• Lam's testimony raises questions about the compliance of South Sudan's military detention facilities with international law and domestic regulations.

In the military, there is no way you can create a military prison. That prison was intended to torture soldiers.

During a recent trial session, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, Deputy Chief of Defense Forces and acting chief of staff of the SPLA-IO, testified that the Jamus Ground military detention facility is an 'illegal prison' established to torture soldiers. The facility, operated by the South Sudan Peoples Defence Forces (SSPDF) Military Intelligence Directorate, has been reported to be an underground detention center. Lam's remarks were made in response to questions from Justice Stephen Simon during the 104th session of the trial at Freedom Hall in Juba.

Lam clarified that the detention facility falls outside the legal framework governing military detention, as it is operated by the Military Intelligence (MI) unit within the army and under the operations department of the SSPDF. He emphasized that there is no provision for creating a military prison in the military, and that the facility was intended to torture soldiers.

The prosecution did not immediately respond to Lam's allegations during the hearing.

Lam's testimony highlighted the complex legal landscape surrounding South Sudan's military detention facilities. The SSPDF's Military Intelligence Directorate operates several detention centers, including Jamus Ground, which has been reported to be used for torture and other human rights abuses. Lam's assertion that the facility is an 'illegal prison' raises questions about the compliance of these detention centers with international law and domestic regulations.

The trial, which involves seven co-defendants charged with murder, conspiracy, terrorism, treason, destruction of public property, and crimes against humanity, has shed light on the alleged human rights abuses committed by SPLA-IO forces allied with the White Army during an attack on the Nasir military garrison in March 2025.

The defendants have denied the charges, which include allegations that 257 SSPDF soldiers were killed and $58 million worth of military equipment was destroyed or seized.

Lam's testimony has significant implications for lawyers and human rights advocates monitoring South Sudan's military detention facilities. The revelation that the Jamus Ground facility is an 'illegal prison' established to torture soldiers underscores the need for greater scrutiny of these centers and their compliance with international law.

The trial's focus on alleged human rights abuses committed by SPLA-IO forces during the attack on the Nasir military garrison highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis in South Sudan. The charges against the defendants, including murder, conspiracy, and crimes against humanity, demonstrate the severity of the allegations and the need for a thorough investigation.

As the trial continues, lawyers should remain vigilant in monitoring the compliance of South Sudan's military detention facilities with international law and domestic regulations.

Lawyers should watch for potential compliance exposures and human rights abuses in South Sudan's military detention facilities, particularly those operated by the SSPDF's Military Intelligence Directorate.

Source: Original reporting via The New Sudan Vision