SSYR Statement on Threats and Intimidation Against Activist Ter Manyang Gatwech
For Immediate Release
October 5, 2025 | Juba
The South Sudan Youth Reforms (SSYR) strongly condemns the alarming threats of arrest and intimidation directed against Ter Manyang Gatwech, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Advocacy (CPA).
According to credible reports, South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) is preparing to authorize his arrest for no other reason than his lawful criticism of government spending, human rights violations, and the ongoing sham trials of political leaders.
Escalating Repression
These threats are not isolated. They reflect a systematic campaign by the Juba regime and its security agencies to silence dissent, muzzle activists, and instill fear in civil society...
Civil Society is Not the Enemy
Ter Manyang Gatwech is not a criminal. He is a respected voice advocating for peace, transparency, and accountability...
SSYR’s Position
- We categorically reject the intimidation and profiling of activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.
- We condemn the regime’s use of the NSS as a political tool to silence opposition and critical voices.
- We demand the immediate cessation of all threats against Ter Manyang Gatwech and other civil society leaders.
- We call on regional bodies (IGAD, AU) and international partners (UN, EU, U.S.) to pressure the South Sudanese authorities to uphold civil liberties and protect human rights defenders.
A Warning for the Future
The targeting of civil society members ahead of South Sudan’s 2026 Human Rights Review in Geneva is a dangerous signal...
📌 #SSYR #ProtectActivists #JusticeForSouthSudan #StopIntimidation