Two SPLM youth were arrested and detained yesterday in the Northern Bahr al-Ghazal State capital, Aweil, for trying to attend a confidential meeting of the party.

The meeting was for the party youth league, but the two were accused of having links to the former Caretaker Governor Kuel Aguer Kuel.

One of the party members, Arkangelo Aru Maduok, says Bona Bak and Valentino Aguer Juach were detained at an unknown location.

“As I speak to you, they are still under detention and we don’t know where they are detained and the families are denied access to them,” Mr Aru told Eye Radio.

He says the dispute was due to difference with the state party chairman, Paul Malong Awan cum SPLA Chief of Staff.

“Our state had political differences between former caretaker governor, Kuel Aguer and Chief General Staff Paul Malong. During these crises, 99% of these youth supported Kuel,” he added.

The police commissioner in the state, General Akot Deng Akot has confirmed the arrest.

He says the youth were later released after investigations.

Gen Akot says the two youth tried to force their way into the meeting hall without identification cards.

“There are two youth who came and said they wanted to enter by force without identification. So the police in charge of security there took them and brought them to me,” Gen Akot explained.

“After investigating this, I released them immediately.”

The meeting started yesterday and continued until this evening. The agenda of the meeting has not been closed.