South Sudanese Activist Charged in Arizona Arms Conspiracy

Peter Biar Ajak, a South Sudanese academic and activist living in the US, has been charged in Arizona for allegedly conspiring to buy and illegally export millions of dollars worth of weapons to overthrow the South Sudanese government.

In a significant development, a prominent South Sudanese academic and activist, Peter Biar Ajak, has been charged in Arizona, along with another individual named Abraham Chol Keech from Utah, for allegedly conspiring to purchase and illegally export millions of dollars worth of weapons to overthrow the government of South Sudan.

Background of Peter Biar Ajak

Ajak, now 40 years old, fled to the United States four years ago with the assistance of the American government after receiving threats to his life from the South Sudanese president. He and his family were granted emergency visas and spent weeks in hiding in Kenya before eventually settling in Maryland.

Details of the Charges

The federal criminal complaint unsealed in Arizona accuses Ajak and Keech of conspiring to purchase and illegally export a substantial cache of weapons to South Sudan through a third country. The weapons in question include automatic rifles like AK-47s, grenade launchers, Stinger missile systems, hand grenades, sniper rifles, ammunition, and other export-controlled arms. These actions are in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and the Export Control Reform Act.

Response from Justice Department Officials

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division expressed concern about the alleged attempt to smuggle heavy weapons into South Sudan, a country currently facing violence between armed groups and subject to a United Nations arms embargo. He emphasized the importance of sanctions and export controls in preventing the destabilization of other sovereign nations.

South Sudan's Ongoing Struggles

Despite gaining independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan continues to grapple with widespread inter-ethnic violence and severe human rights abuses committed by various parties. These challenges have resulted in the loss of lives and the displacement of thousands of individuals.

Ajak's Academic and Activist Background

Prior to the charges, Ajak held notable positions in the academic and activist communities. He served as a postdoctoral fellow in the Belfer Center's International Security Program at the Harvard Kennedy School, focusing on state formation in South Sudan. He also held fellowships at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies of the National Defense University and the National Endowment for Democracy.

The charges against Peter Biar Ajak and Abraham Chol Keech highlight the ongoing challenges faced by South Sudan and the international community's efforts to maintain stability in the region. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome of this case will be closely monitored by those concerned about arms trafficking and the pursuit of peace in South Sudan.