Save the Children’s Country Director in South Sudan has been released from government custody without charge after being detained in Juba on October 8, the humanitarian organisation has confirmed.
In an email response to questions from Wol Mapal, Save the Children’s Media and Communication Manager, Ezibon Saadalla Khamis, said the organisation was relieved by the release but that the reasons for the detention remained unclear.
“We are relieved that our Country Director in South Sudan, who was detained in Juba on 8 October and held in government custody, was released yesterday with no charges laid,” Khamis said.
“It remains unclear why he was detained,” he added.
The director, identified by media reports as Chris Nyamandi, was reportedly detained in the South Sudanese capital on October 8. His release came on Tuesday, October 13, after several days in government custody, according to the organisation’s statement as reported by Radio Tamazuj.
The circumstances surrounding his detention have not been officially clarified in the response provided by Save the Children.
The incident comes amid concerns about the operating environment for humanitarian organisations in South Sudan, where aid agencies provide essential services to children and vulnerable communities affected by conflict, displacement and food insecurity.
Save the Children is an international humanitarian organisation that works to protect children’s rights and provide assistance in emergencies.
As of publication, the organisation’s response did not indicate whether authorities had provided a formal explanation for the detention or whether any further action was expected.
