A close aide to South Sudan’s suspended First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, has died while in military detention in Juba, relatives and colleagues confirmed on Thursday.

Captain Luka Gathok Nyuon, a native of Mayom County in Unity State, was arrested in March shortly after Machar was placed under house arrest. The 40-year-old officer had been held together with several colleagues at the Jamus military detention facility until his death.

A family member told Radio Tamazuj that they received news of Nyuon’s passing on Thursday morning.
“We were informed that Luka fell sick while in custody,” the relative said, adding that the body is still kept at the military hospital mortuary in Giyada. “The family has not been allowed to see or collect it.”

Relatives suspect foul play, saying they have been denied access to verify the cause of death. They are now demanding that the authorities hand over the body for burial and open an independent inquiry.
“The government unit that arrested him must account for why he died in detention and why he did not get medical attention,” the family member stressed.

Alfred Gatmai, SPLM-IO caucus secretary for information in Mayom County, also confirmed the incident, noting that Nyuon had been ill in detention but was denied treatment. He further alleged that detainees face torture to force them into abandoning loyalty to Machar.
“There are about 80 of Machar’s bodyguards still under detention,” Gatmai revealed.

The army’s spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, human rights activist Edmund Yakani condemned the development, describing it as a tragic consequence of political wrangling in South Sudan.
“Any unlawful act that leads to loss of life is disturbing. The country has already lost many citizens because of political disputes,” Yakani said, calling for accountability and justice.

Nyuon’s death comes at a time of heightened political and security tensions. Last week, President Salva Kiir suspended Machar and referred him to trial on charges of treason and crimes against humanity over a March militia attack in Nasir County.

Several of Machar’s allies, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol and Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam, were also arrested in March.

Although South Sudan’s constitution requires suspects to be brought before court within 24 hours, the provision is rarely respected in practice.