On 15 August 2026, Paramount Chief Tito Duang Dhieu of Gomjuer Centre was detained by the National Security Service (NSS) after sharing photographs of dire conditions inside Nyamliel Prison in Aweil town-Nothern Bhar el Gazaal State. His arrest followed the death of an inmate reportedly caused by hunger and illness. Local authorities accused him of bypassing official reporting channels and “embarrassing” the government.
The paramount chief had in his capacity as community leader paid the prison a visit to understand the plight of the inmates. His arrest highlights shrinking civic space, criminalization of whistleblowing, and worsening risks of activists and traditional leaders advocating for human rights.