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SPLA IG forces detained Catholic priest

Description: 

On 2.11.2016.Magwi.SPLA in government force deployed in Pageri, Magwi county, Eastern Equatoria state on Sunday, 30 October 2016, have detained two Roman Catholic priests, Fathers Aventore Opi and Sisto Ojja, the Roman Catholic priests are both from Ma’di ethnic group, priest of Apostle. The priests are well known and highly regarded by their congregations and in South Sudan as whole and they went to the area after obtaining permission from commissioner to travel to Acca/ Aswa, where the notorious chief of traffic police of Aswa region detained their vehicle.  This is the second time the two priests were illegally and unlawful detained in Pageri. In February 10, 2015, when the SPLA soldiers raided more than seven villages in Loa and randomly rounded up 150 youth and children as young as 13 years old, the priests went to the barracks to inquire why such school children were rounded up in the night without any explanation. They priests were arrested and detained in Pageri the whole day before they were set free with the children they went to rescue. 
In October this year the same soldiers forced the senior pastor and founder of Sudanese Gospel Mission, Rev C.D. Drani on gunpoint and he was forced to abandoned his modern church premise in Loa and evacuate with the orphanage to the refugee camps. The same soldiers in Aswa in October also threatened one of the pastors in Pageri accusing him of being a rebel.

Date: 
Friday, November 4, 2016 - 09:00
Committed by: 
Type of Violation: 
Geolocation: