Raphael Juma Zachariah, who was released on Monday is a member of the political party member, the Africa National Congress or ANC. - COURTESY

The National Security Service on Monday released a member of the African National Congress Party, Raphael Juma Zachariah on condition that he quit politics and apologize to the security, an activist has said.

Juma is a member of the political party member, the Africa National Congress or ANC.

The release came a day after civil society activist Edmond Yakani appealed to the President to free Juma Zachariah and two other critics.

His arrest in November last year was after he allegedly criticized the way recruitment and deployment of security personnel are done within the sector.

Speaking to Eye Radio advocate Bol Deng Bol said Juma was released but under three conditions.

This includes apologising on social media in a written form and retiring from the party and political activities Eye Radio can’t independently verify.

Bol Deng Bol called for the conditions to be dropped.

“Raphael Juma Zachariah was released from the National Security Services detention centre, he was released under three conditions,” Bol told Eye Radio.

“First he has to apologize to the National Security Servies on social media and he has to write a written apology later and submit to the National Security Services and commit himself to end his political activism by stopping activism and political activities,” he said.

“The government and the security organs should tolerate freedom of expression of their views without being silent.

“I want to appeal to national security to drop these conditions and allow Raphael Juma Zachariah to exercise his rights and freedom.”

Advocate Bol Deng says Activist Raphael Juma Zachariah was arrested for criticising the National Security and State authority.

“Raphael Juma Zachariah was arrested by the national security some time and the reason for his arrest is because he critics the national security and state authority on a video recorded in December in Juba University he was arrested first on December 4th and he was released on Sunday 31st December 2023,” he said.

On the 30^th of December 2023, a Civil society activist called on the Head of State to also extend pardons to some detained activists.

Edmond Yakani was reacting to the pardoning by President Kiir of 20 inmates from government prisons across the country on Friday.

According to Edmond, some government critics have been arbitrarily detained while others are some whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Yakani cited the like of Morris Mabor who was kidnapped from Nairobi in February 2023.

Similarly, he said, Peter Ajak Biar, who headed a civil society organization was kidnapped in Juba in October 2023.

Another, according to Yakani is Simon Yen, who was allegedly under the directives of the Renk County authorities after he reportedly questioned the commissioner on social media over a lack of transparency.

Meanwhile, Raphael Juma Zakaria was detained in December 2023 in Juba for allegedly challenging the recruitment and deployment of some security personnel.

Speaking to Eye Radio, Edmond Yakani urges President Kiir to intervene as his end-of-year gift for the detainees and their families.

Eye Radio could not independently verify the release of Raphael Juma Zakaria from the detention centre.