Eleven Rebel Politicians arrested in Ethiopia

For Immediate Release
May, 6, 2014
The people of South Sudan welcomed the arrest of eleven rebel politicians in Gambella town on May, 4th, by the Ethiopian Federal Police. Ethiopia and South Sudan signed Border Security Agreement which stipulates that both countries would not allow rebels to destabilize the borders. In 2013 alone, South Sudan deported twenty five Ethiopian rebels to Addis Ababa, including former President of Gambella region, Mr. Okello Akwai.
After the SPLA forces entered into Nasir on May, 4th, the rebel politicians of Dr. Riek Machar who were residing in the town ran towards Ethiopian border. The eleven politicians of the rebels took a speed motorboat to Gambella town, the capital city of Gambella region. Upon their arrival, the Ethiopian Federal Police detained them at Kerchale Prison for being part of anti-peace elements in South Sudan. On Monday, May 5th, the Ethiopian Federal Police charged them with illegal entry into Ethiopia and for being members of a rebel Movement deemed as a terrorist entity.
The most senior of the eleven rebel politicians is Peter Gatkuoth Khor Paduel, who is formerly an acting Undersecretary in the Ministry of Justice in Juba from 2011 to the end of 2012. When he defected to the rebels in March this year, he was holding a position of Registrar at the Ministry of Justice. He went to Khartoum with a government delegation and left for Addis Ababa to join the rebels.
Brig. Gen. Koang Thow, the commander of SPLA forces in Nasir, opened all trade routes to Ethiopia because the rebels of Riek Machar ran to Akobo after they refused to be disarmed by the Ethiopian Federal Police. Speed boats from Gambella town arrived in Nasir town today with commercial goods. Shops and restaurants have been reopened since May, 5th. It should be noted that Nasir has the largest concentration of Ethiopian traders in the entire South Sudan. There is an area in the town named by the locals as “Little Ethiopia” because of its Ethiopian population.
Brig. Gen. Koang Thow cleaned Nasir County of any rebel. The arrest of eleven rebel politicians in Gambella town signifies cooperation between South Sudan and Ethiopia in preventing insecurity at the border. The economy of Gambella region is attached to the economy of Upper Nile state. Any insecurity in Upper Nile state can negatively affect business in Gambella region.
For contact:
Gen. Gordon Buay
Former spokesman of SSLM/A
Member of Other Armed Groups Integration Committee
Email: [email protected]