On 13 May 2026, members of the National Security Service forces arrested Kom Kom Geng, a serving Member of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly of South Sudan, along with two colleagues. The officials were arrested over allegations of forgery, document smuggling, the illegal use of presidential symbols of authority and interference with an ongoing investigation. This follows an increase in arrests of political and high profile figures in the country since the year begun. This particular arrest however, raised concerns about violations of parliamentary immunity and constitutional protection.
The incident highlights disregard of the rule of law, risks of political repression and shrinking civic space, undermining democratic governance and civil society’s ability to operate during this electoral period.