The health of the former governor of Western Equatoria state, Joseph Bangasi Bakosoro, is very poor, family members have told Eye Radio.

Mr Bakosoro was released from detention on Wednesday evening. He had been in detention in Juba without charge or trial since December 2015.

His told Eye Radio this morning that his health situation is not good like when he was at home before detention.

“He looks so pale compared to the time when he was still at home,” Sister Dudu Bakosoro said. “He is very weak.”

However, she expressed happiness and joy for his release.

“We don’t know even how to express our happiness to the world, people of South Sudan, to the government, to the international community, to those in diaspora, to the church leaders and to everyone,” Ms Bakosoro added.

The release of Mr Bakosoro comes weeks after a human rights watchdog, Amnesty International, appealed to the government to either charge and try him in a court of law or set him free.

He was first arrested and detained in August, after his dismissal as Governor of the former Western Equatoria State. He was later released without charges.