Detainees, Prophet Abraham Chol and former NBGs governor Kule Aguer Kuel. (Photo: Eye Media).

An activist has urged President Salva Kiir to pardon Prophet Abraham Chol and former Northern Bahr El Ghazal State governor Kuel Aguer to uphold civic space in the country.

The two men have been in detention for more than a year, following their arrest for voicing remarks against the unity government.

Kuel stand charged with subverting a constitutional government, attempting to overthrow the government by unconstitutional means, and causing disaffection among security forces.

While Prophet Abraham Chol has been indicted of forming a group and instigating a conspiracy to topple the unity government.

However, Edmund Yakani, the Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization appeals to the president to pardon the two detainees in the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness he often talks about.

“I have been so much urging His Excellency the president to pardon Abraham and pardon the former governor (of NBGs) in the sense that if we are to reconcile ourselves, reconciliation is always when we acknowledge the bitter pills that we have swallowed,” Yakani said on Eye Radio’s Sundown Show, on Monday.

Both Kuel Aguer and Abraham Chol appeared in court in the last few weeks.

Kuel was arrested on August 3^rd, 2021 for allegedly signing a document linked with the online anti-government movement, the People’s Coalition for Civil Action.

In the case of Chol, his defense lawyer, Yasmin Ahmed Khamis argued that the prophet has the right to freedom of expression, in accordance with the 2011 Transitional Constitution.

Yasmin also asserted that preaching a transfer of power of the President through God is not a crime.

Meanwhile, the prominent activist said public officeholders should take criticisms lightly if the citizens are to enjoy freedom of expression as well as the political space – recently ordered by the presidency.

“That’s why I am still urging the president to pardon Abraham Chol, he should also pardon Kuel Aguer because we feel that it depends on the interpretation of the situation you are in,”

“And it becomes worst, when court cases are heard behind closed doors. That’s why I want to urge the leaders of the country, that when court cases are not made public, you are actually adding more mistrust from the public on institutions like the judiciary.”