The Chairman of the South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SSPLM/A), Deng Bol Aruai Bol, made the explosive claim in a public statement on Saturday, asserting that he and several well-known South Sudanese figures are named on what he described as a government hit list.
The individuals allegedly targeted include:
- Deng Bol Aruai Bol, SSPLM/A Chairman
- Agel Ring Machar, former Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President
- Chol Duang, literacy advocate and political activist
- Wani Michael, former Executive Director of the Okay Africa Foundation
- Garang John, journalist
- Dr. Majak D’Agoot, former intelligence chief
In his statement, Deng Bol condemned the alleged plot, reiterating his commitment to non-violence and public accountability.
“I carry no weapons but words. My only ‘crime,’ if any, has been to speak openly and honestly about what our country should be doing for its people,” he said.
“If this warrants a death sentence, then something is profoundly broken in South Sudan.”
Bol emphasized that the government must uphold its constitutional duty to protect—not persecute—its citizens, especially those exercising their freedom of speech.
“We are not the threat,” he added. “We are the reminder of what we should have been, and what we still can become.”
Wani Michael, one of the other alleged targets, echoed Bol’s defiance. In a chilling revelation, Wani claimed he was previously marked for assassination while in Juba.
“In 2021, I survived a close-range assassination attempt,” he said.
“You might kill us, but you can’t kill the idea and the quest for a free, democratic, and peaceful South Sudan. This country will succeed!”
The list is believed to have originated from a confidential government source and surfaced in a leaked WhatsApp conversation. Although independent verification of the document remains pending, the allegations have reignited fears over the deteriorating space for dissent and civil liberties in the country.
Over the years, human rights organizations have consistently reported arbitrary arrests, harassment, enforced disappearances, and targeted killings of activists, journalists, and opposition voices in South Sudan.
Government officials have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the existence of the assassination list or the leaked messages. The silence has only deepened the public’s unease.
As political tensions intensify ahead of the planned 2026 national elections, civil society leaders and international observers are urging the government to commit to transparency, accountability, and the protection of civic freedoms.
“If our democracy is to mean anything,” Deng Bol concluded, “then our right to speak and live without fear must be defended—no matter who is in power.”
