(AWEIL, NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL) – Former South Sudanese Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel, once widely regarded as a potential successor to President Salva Kiir, has now spent close to 200 days under house arrest, as calls for his release continue to grow during a presidential visit to Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
The issue resurfaced during President Kiir’s visit to Aweil as part of a wider peace and unity tour ahead of the country’s planned December elections. The visit was intended to focus on political stability and economic recovery across the region.
During the engagement, youth from Aweil East County, the home area of Bol Mel, submitted a petition to the president requesting the release of the former vice president and two other former officials currently in detention.
The petition, delivered through the Office of the President’s legal affairs department, stated that the continued detention of the individuals without trial raises concerns over compliance with constitutional provisions and due process requirements.
It called on authorities to either bring formal charges before a competent court or release the detainees unconditionally in line with legal safeguards.
The same petition also included requests for the release of former First Undersecretary at the Ministry of Finance Garang Majak Bol and former Undersecretary at the Ministry of Petroleum Deng Lual Wol, both of whom were reportedly detained earlier this year.
Benjamin Bol Mel’s case has attracted particular attention due to his rapid rise within the country’s political establishment. A long time ally of President Kiir, he was appointed Vice President in charge of the Economic Cluster and was widely seen as part of the senior leadership circle with potential succession influence.
His removal from office in November 2025 and subsequent placement under house arrest marked a sharp shift in his political standing. Since then, official information regarding the status of any investigations has remained limited.
Reports have previously linked Bol Mel and several other officials to detention under allegations of financial misconduct, although no formal charges have been publicly disclosed. Authorities have also not issued updated statements in response to recent calls for clarity on the matter.
The National Security Service has in earlier communications identified Bol Mel among a group of officials detained in connection with alleged financial crimes. However, the absence of public court proceedings has continued to draw attention from his supporters and sections of the public.
President Kiir’s visit to Northern Bahr el Ghazal was framed around themes of peace building, unity and economic recovery, as the government prepares for the upcoming electoral period.
However, in Aweil East County, local discussions during the visit were strongly focused on the continued detention of one of the region’s most prominent political figures. Community members used the occasion to renew calls for legal transparency and resolution of the case.
Supporters of the former vice president argue that the prolonged detention without trial raises questions about procedural fairness and the application of constitutional rights, particularly as the country approaches a politically sensitive election period.