Kapoeta South authorities issue arrest warrants over disappearance of SPLM official and friend

Kapoeta South authorities in Eastern Equatoria State have issued arrest warrants against individuals suspected of involvement in the disappearance of a Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) official and his friend.

The caretaker County Commissioner, Yousif Lotelo Lobole, says the suspects include a security officer believed to have been behind the arrest of Alex Lotyem, the SPLM secretary for Kapoeta South County, and his friend, Matthew Loteyo.

The two men were reportedly arrested from a hotel in Kapoeta town on October 30, and their whereabouts have remained unknown since then.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Monday morning, Commissioner Lobole said the search for the missing men was continuing, with authorities having searched several locations over nearly a week.

“We are currently still searching. For nearly a week, we have not left any place without searching. We have issued an arrest warrant against the individual believed to be behind it and the friends who were present,” Lobole said.

He added that some of the individuals who were present when the two men were arrested had since been apprehended.

“Now some of the friends have been arrested, and from there, we want to know the whereabouts of these two men, whether they are there or not,” he said.

Authorities say efforts are continuing to establish what happened to the two men and determine their whereabouts.