Peter Biar Ajak was arrested in South Sudan on July 28. Peter is a youth advocate for peace and a friend and inspiration to many who know him around the world. He is currently being held without charge at the notorious South Sudanese prison known as the Blue House. His friends at universities, human rights institutions, media organizations and others around the world are calling for his release.

Peter’s arrest comes amid a worrying trend in arbitrary detentions due to a crackdown on freedom of expression by the South Sudanese government. Amnesty International reports numerous recent arrests without charges. This goes against South Sudan’s constitution which states no one can be held without charge for more than 24 hours.

Peter was one of ‘the Lost Boys of South Sudan’. Displaced during the war when he was young, he lived in refugee camps before being taken to the United States by humanitarian charities. Once in the US he learned English and studied hard, securing a place at La Salle University, then completed a masters at Harvard before studying for a PhD at Cambridge University in the UK. His inspirational story was recognized when he became an Atlantic Council Millennium Fellow and Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow. In June, Peter was awarded the Crans Montana Forum’s New Leader for Tomorrow Award by H. E. Moussa Traoré, former President of Mali.

Peter has always kept his focus on South Sudan and his hope for a peaceful future for his country. He has worked in think tanks, his national government, and institutions working for development and peace. He has dedicated himself to creating opportunities for dialogue among South Sudanese youth, running wrestling tournaments across the country to bring young people together and to celebrate South Sudan's unique culture. He founded the South Sudan Young Leaders Forum (SSYLF) bringing together young leaders, both men and women, from across ethnicities and politics to encouraging youth throughout the countryside to embrace peaceful dialogue.

Since Peter’s arrest, there has been amazing support from friends he has made around the world. His detention serves to highlight the systematic abuse and arbitrary detention of innocent people in South Sudan who do not have the same platforms, connections and international support as Peter.

Peter has a wife and two young children. We are asking for him to be released and allowed home to his family.