S.Sudan graft whistleblower abducted in Kenya freed after two months

A South Sudanese whistleblower abducted in Kenya two months ago and transferred to his home country, where he was held at a military facility, has been released, his family said Monday.

Athorbey Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit, 51, who also holds Kenyan citizenship, was living in Nairobi, where he had repeatedly warned that his life was in danger because he was exposing corruption linked to South Sudan's ruling elite, a representative told AFP in June.

He was abducted at gunpoint by masked men as he left a casino in Nairobi two months ago, according to information his wife received from police.

"We are very happy that Gaddhaffy has been returned to us after being abducted from Kenya and held in detention in Juba for almost two months," the family said in a statement.

Al-Gaddhaffy-Dit was released on August 8 after investigations "did not reveal any wrongdoing", the family said.

"We were never told why he was taken."

The family said his health had deteriorated while in detention and that he was now receiving treatment in Kenya.