A civil society organization in South Sudan has pointed to a “worrying and disturbing trend” of abductions and disappearances of people, implying that some authorities are abusing their powers.

The warning comes immediately after a report of the abduction of three men by unidentified gunmen in Yei County, Central Equatoria State. The state police spokesman has declined to comment on the case.

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), which advocates for peace and human rights, announced that it “condemns the new trend of individuals getting missing or abducted by some gunmen across the country.”

“This trend is increasing and CEPO is urging the South Sudan National Police Service to take measures against this trend. State parliamentarians and certain category of individuals who are mainly vocal within the society are going missing in South Sudan,” said the head of the organization Edmund Yakani.

He added, “the matter is disturbing and it seems certain individuals are abusing the state powers of our law enforcement agents.”

File photo: Activist Edmund Yakani at an anti-war march in Juba, South Sudan

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Family demand to know reason for ‘abduction’ of man in Yei (3 Dec.)

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Pastor abducted by gunmen in Morobo, Central Equatoria (30 Oct.)

SPLM-DC warns of ‘ghost houses like Khartoum’ (9 Oct.)