South Sudanese Whistleblower Allegedly Abducted in Kenya Being Held at Juba Military Base, Amnesty Claims
A South Sudanese businessman and anti-corruption whistleblower who allegedly disappeared from Nairobi earlier this week is being held at a military detention facility in South Sudan, according to Amnesty International.
Athorbey Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit, 51, who reportedly holds both South Sudanese and Kenyan citizenship, vanished under mysterious circumstances after an alleged early-morning abduction on the outskirts of Nairobi.
Human rights campaigners have now raised alarm, claiming he was unlawfully transferred to South Sudan and is being detained at a military base in the capital, Juba.
In a statement posted on X, Amnesty International said it had received credible information regarding his whereabouts.
“We have received credible information that Athorbey Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit was unlawfully deported to South Sudan and is currently being held at a military detention facility in Juba,” the rights organisation stated.
According to a police report filed by his wife, Athorbey was allegedly seized by armed and masked men at approximately 3am on June 11. Witnesses claimed the group bundled him into a white vehicle shortly after he left a casino in the Nairobi metropolitan area.
The circumstances surrounding his disappearance have sparked renewed concerns about the safety of political dissidents and government critics living in Kenya.
Sources familiar with the matter told AFP that Athorbey had repeatedly warned that his life was in danger due to his outspoken criticism of corruption within South Sudan’s government.
The businessman had reportedly been exposing alleged financial misconduct involving influential figures linked to the country’s ruling establishment.
His alleged abduction comes amid growing scrutiny of South Sudan’s governance. A United Nations report published last year accused senior government officials of misappropriating billions of dollars in oil revenues while millions of citizens continued to struggle with poverty, inadequate healthcare, and poor access to public services.
Human rights groups have warned that Athorbey’s disappearance reflects a disturbing pattern of cross-border repression increasingly affecting East Africa.
Kenya has historically been viewed as a safe haven for political activists, journalists, and opposition figures fleeing authoritarian governments in neighbouring countries. However, several recent incidents have cast doubt on that reputation.
Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy reacted strongly to reports of Athorbey’s disappearance.
“Nairobi used to be safe for those seeking refuge from authoritarian regimes. It seems that’s over. Too bad!” Nagy wrote on X.
Observers have drawn parallels with previous high-profile cases involving foreign dissidents allegedly targeted while in Kenya.
In November 2024, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was reportedly abducted in Kenya before being transferred to Uganda, where he later faced treason-related charges before a military court.
Other cases involving Turkish and Tanzanian dissidents have similarly fuelled concerns over the apparent reach of foreign governments beyond their borders.
Amnesty International has repeatedly warned that Kenya risks becoming complicit in transnational repression by allowing neighbouring states to target critics and political opponents on Kenyan soil.
Kenyan authorities have previously denied involvement in reported abductions, maintaining that any cooperation with foreign governments is conducted within the framework of legal and diplomatic agreements.
As pressure mounts for answers, rights groups are demanding that both Kenyan and South Sudanese authorities disclose Athorbey’s whereabouts, guarantee his safety, and explain the circumstances surrounding his alleged transfer to Juba.
Neither the Kenyan government nor South Sudanese authorities had publicly commented on Amnesty’s latest claims at the time of publication.
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