RUMBEK – Sudanese refugees in Rumbek, the capital of South Sudan’s Lakes State, appealed to President Salva Kiir Mayardit and rights groups to intervene after four refugee community leaders were reportedly detained and transferred to another city following a dispute over immigration fees.
In an appeal statement, the refugees said local authorities in Rumbek required them to pay $90 for immigration procedures despite holding official refugee cards. They said their difficult living conditions made it impossible for many families to afford the amount.
According to the statement, authorities detained four community leaders on August 17: Saddam Dosa, head of the Sudanese community in Rumbek; Mohamed Ismail, deputy chief of the Zaghawa community; Sultan Hashim, chief of the Masalit community; and Sultan Dabanga, chief of the Tunjur community.
The refugees said the four men were transferred from Rumbek to Aweil in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, adding that no clear information was available about their condition or place of detention at the time of the appeal.
Sudan Now could not independently verify the circumstances of the reported arrests or the legal basis for the fees. South Sudanese authorities had not issued an immediate public comment.
The appeal comes as South Sudan continues to host large numbers of Sudanese fleeing the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023 and has pushed hundreds of thousands of people across borders into neighboring countries.
South Sudan has been particularly affected by the war because of its long border with Sudan, historic social ties and economic dependence on oil infrastructure that runs through Sudan to the Red Sea. The conflict has also increased pressure on South Sudanese towns and services already facing severe humanitarian and economic challenges.
Many Sudanese refugees and returnees in South Sudan face difficulties related to documentation, shelter, food, health care and movement between states. Aid agencies have warned that host communities are also under pressure as new arrivals continue to seek safety.
The refugees urged Kiir’s government to release the detained community leaders, cancel the imposed fees and take into account their legal status as refugees and their humanitarian conditions.
They also called on international and human rights organizations to follow up on the case, ensure the safety of the detainees and help protect refugees from measures that could worsen their living conditions.
Despite the appeal, the refugees expressed appreciation for what they described as the hospitality they had received from South Sudan’s government and people.
