South Sudanese freelance commentator Samuel Peter Oyay was arrested in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on September 30, 2025, shortly after publishing an opinion piece for Radio Tamazuj, a Netherlands-based outlet widely followed for its coverage of South Sudanese affairs.
According to Oyay’s wife, Vivian Johnson, the arrest took place at 1 a.m., when six security officers entered their home, searched the property for nearly two hours, and confined her and their children to a separate room. Johnson said her phone was seized and that the officers offered no explanation beyond stating that Oyay would be held for five days “for investigation.”
Johnson later told The Associated Press that she had managed to speak with her husband only three times since his arrest. Their most recent conversation, on October 25, lasted less than a minute. She said Oyay did not indicate where he was being held.
CPJ emailed the UAE and South Sudan embassies in Washington in October, seeking clarification on the grounds for Oyay’s detention and whether South Sudanese authorities played any role in his arrest. Neither embassy responded.