(JUBA) – A South Sudanese businessman reportedly abducted in Kenya is now believed to be held at a military intelligence facility in Giada, Juba, according to statements from his family and information shared by a relative.
The family of Athorbey Al Gaddhaffy Dit said on Thursday that they had been informed by an anonymous source that he is being held at the Giada detention facility. However, they said authorities have denied them direct access to confirm his condition or legal status.
The claims come amid rising concern over his disappearance following reports that he was taken by masked individuals in Nairobi, Kenya, in the early hours of Tuesday. According to a police report filed by his wife, the incident occurred at around 3:00 AM after he left a venue on the outskirts of the Kenyan capital, before being forced into a vehicle.
His wife told international media that she believes her husband was taken from Kenya and later transferred to South Sudan. She said she does not know his current condition or the circumstances of his detention in Juba, and expressed concern about his wellbeing.
Athorbey Al Gaddhaffy Dit is reported to hold dual citizenship in South Sudan and Kenya, a factor that has added complexity to the case and raised questions about cross border legal procedures.
Amnesty International Kenya issued a statement warning that any transfer of the businessman to South Sudan could place his safety and legal rights at risk. The organisation called for clarity on his whereabouts and the legal basis for his detention.
Reuters reported that South Sudanese government officials and Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Korir Sing Oei said they had no confirmed information regarding the incident. Kenyan police officials did not respond to requests for comment.
The case has also drawn attention from regional observers who say it reflects a broader pattern of disputed transfers of individuals between countries in the region, particularly involving allegations of forced removal and detention without due legal process.
Former United States Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Tibor Nagy commented on the matter through social media, noting concerns about the security environment for individuals in Nairobi who may be seeking protection or asylum. Kenyan authorities have not publicly responded to the remarks.
Kenyan human rights activist Boniface Mwangi told Reuters that he met the businessman in April. He said the businessman had previously expressed concerns about being targeted after sharing information related to alleged corruption in South Sudan with journalists and diplomatic contacts.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has previously reported on alleged cross border security operations involving South Sudanese security agencies in neighbouring countries, including Kenya and Uganda. A 2023 report cited concerns over renditions, surveillance activities and intimidation of individuals considered dissidents.
The government of South Sudan has in the past rejected allegations of systematic human rights abuses by state security bodies, maintaining that its operations are conducted in line with national law.
As of publication, neither South Sudan nor Kenyan authorities have issued a detailed public account of the businessman’s location or the circumstances surrounding his reported transfer and detention.