Aerial view of Wau town. (Photo: Courtesy.)

The Deputy Chairperson of Luo-Youth Association who was arrested in Wau town in Western Bahr el Ghazal State over the Jur River Bridge protest, has been released on bail.

Santo Madut and three others namely Urbano Ulum Upiou, James Agany Wol and Paulino Uliny Ajongo were accused of allegedly attacking the Speaker’s residence, a claim the youth denied.

However, Madut told Eye Radio on Wednesday, October 5, 2023, that he was arrested after he petitioned the new name for Jur River Bridge.

His release was not made public with an MP still believing he was in detention.

But his bail-out coincided with the meeting of Western Bahr el Ghazal politicians on Saturday.

The leaders formed a five-member committee to investigate the dispute over Jur Bridge’s alleged new name.

According to Madut, he was first held at the Criminal Investigation headquarters in Wau for six days.

Two days later, he was served with a warrant of arrest and charged with mischief related to the alleged attack on the State speaker’s residence.

Madut and other youths were accused of allegedly attacking the Speaker’s residence.

“I was released on Saturday [Oct. 14], and I was arrested on date Oct. 5 at the national security,” Madut said.

“On October 11, I was transferred to the CID headquarters and then on Oct. 13, I was arrested again because the right honourable speaker delegated a private secretary to go and open the case,” he said.

“On October 13, I was arrested again with an arrest warrant in Markaz Wau, and on October 14. the investigation has taken place and I was a bailout.”

In 2020, the Chinese government offered to build a bridge for South Sudan and the national government agreed it to be constructed on the Jur River.

The Chinese-built new bridge is reportedly slated to be commissioned towards the end of this year.