S. Sudan rebels slam deportation of leader's confidante

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) – South Sudan’s opposition on Friday condemned the deportation from Kenya of the spokesman for embattled rebel leader, Riek Machar.

The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) hit out at Kenya’s removal of Machar’s confidante James Gatdet Dak and warned his life may now be in danger.

The press secretary for South Sudan’s former first vice president was deported on Thursday and is now reported to be in custody in Juba, the South Sudanese capital.

In a statement, the SPLM-IO said Gatdet had been removed from his residence by Kenyan security forces.

The group said Machar -- who is currently in South Africa -- held a telephone conversation with Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and appealed unsuccessfully for Kenya not to deport Gatdet.

There was a “profound fear” he would be killed once handed over to the government in Juba, the SPLM-IO release added.

It claims Gatdet was an urban refugee under the protection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kenya.

“Unfortunately, his appeal was ignored,” it read, adding the UNHCR had made a similar unsuccessful appeal on Gatdet's behalf. It claimed the deportation was a violation of the Geneva Convention and called on the international community to intervene.

The conflict in South Sudan has led to tens of thousands of deaths since it began in 2013. Fighting between rebel and government forces began again in July following a peace deal last year.