Kalisto Lado, former mayor of Juba City Council, has been released after being detained for more than five months by South Sudan's National Security Service.
Widespread social media rumors, later proven false, suggested he had died in custody due to mistreatment, leading to his release.
Kalisto's lawyer, Adv. Wani Santino Jada, announced his release on Facebook.
“Our client Kalisto Lado, the former mayor of Juba, has been released from NSS detention,” Wani posted.
Reports suggest that plain-clothed security agents arrested Lado in late March 2024 near his home at Hai Kuwait in Juba, under unclear circumstances.
His detention sparked public outcry both locally and internationally. Lawmakers from Central Equatoria State condemned the arrest, calling it a violation of human rights and the rule of law.
They demanded either his immediate release or a fair trial. Additionally, human rights organizations like Amnesty International expressed concern about his well-being, fearing that he might face torture or other ill-treatment while in custody.
Kalisto's wife, Ann Grace, told Eye Radio that she has been informed about the release of her husband but said she has not seen him yet.
“Up to now I have not received an official call from there; I have heard about this information, but I don't know if he has been released or not. If there is something like that, it will not be handled by myself, but by the family members and elders,” said Grace.
“Someone called me and told me congratulations; your husband has been released, that was my cousin brother who called me and informed me about it."
The alleged charges against Kalisto Lado included accusations of conspiracy, subverting the government, and involvement in supplying weapons to insurgents.
However, much of the government's evidence has remained undisclosed. Vice President Wani Igga, speaking at a public event on August 10th, acknowledged that the government had detained Lado and hinted at a video showing evidence of his alleged crimes, though no timeline for a trial was provided.
Since Lado had been vocal about land issues in Juba, including public criticism of land grabbing, which reportedly infuriated some within the political elite, it is believed that his detention was politically motivated.
The Radio Community contacted David Kumuri, director of Public Relations for the National Security Service, for confirmation. He was busy and promised to call back.
“Daniel, let me call you back in a few minutes,” promised Kumuri.
Civil society activist and executive director of Community Empowerment for Progress, Edmund Yakani, commended the release of Kalisto.
“I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate the positive response from our National Security Service leadership and the Office of Public Relations for responding positively to the call we made for the last few days and the one I made this morning urging for the fate of the life of our former Mayor of Juba City, Kallisto Lado. As we speak now from reliable sources, we got information that Kallisto Lado is released to join his family,” Yakani stated.
“I would like to take this opportunity to also call upon the state and the government that those who have contributed for the arbitrary arrest and suffering of Kallisto Lado should be held accountable by the law because these are people who are enemies of peace and stability in the country.”
Kalisto’s case reflects broader concerns about political space and the suppression of freedom of expression in the country.
