South Sudan’s National Security Service have arrested the Country Director of Oxfam International, Adil Al-Mahi.

Mr. Al-Mahi was picked up by security officers while returning home on Thursday evening.

Adil Al-Mahi, a Sudanese national, became South Sudan Oxfam country director in September 2020.

Oxfam, a British founded confederation of 20 independent charitable organizations focusing on the alleviation of global poverty, is working in South Sudan to deliver humanitarian aid to help people affected by the conflict.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the organization’s country director is being held at the national security agency’s main detentions centre in the capital Juba, known locally as “Blue House”.

 “Al-Mahi is being detained at the Blue House. They [authorities] are tightlipped on the charges saying investigations are ongoing,” the source said. 

Government officials were unavailable for comment.

The National Security Service Act (2015) grants the security agency sweeping powers to arrest, detain, conduct searches, and seize property. The law, however, requires the NSS to bring detainees before a magistrate or judge within 24 hours of their detention. Detainees under NSS detention are often kept in poor conditions.