Peter Biar set for U.S. court hearing in alleged weapons smuggling case

PHOENIX — United States-based South Sudanese academic and political activist Peter Biar Ajak is scheduled to appear before a U.S. federal court this week for a hearing in a high-profile case in which prosecutors accuse him and a close associate of attempting to illegally procure and export military-grade weapons to South Sudan.

Court records show that Ajak is expected in court on Friday at 10:00 a.m. local time at the Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Courthouse in downtown Phoenix. The hearing forms part of ongoing pretrial proceedings in a case brought by the U.S. Department of Justice under federal export control and arms trafficking laws.

The case first became public on March 5, 2024, when U.S. authorities unsealed a federal criminal complaint and announced the arrest of the two men. That announcement marked the first official disclosure of the investigation, although prosecutors allege the suspected activities occurred over a longer period, between February 2023 and February 2024.

Since then, the matter has moved through the U.S. federal court system, drawing attention among South Sudanese diaspora communities and policy observers because of Ajak’s profile as a civil society advocate.

Ajak and his co-defendant, Abraham Chol Keech, have both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to U.S. prosecutors, the two men allegedly conspired to purchase and ship a large cache of controlled weapons from the United States to South Sudan without authorisation, in violation of American export laws and international restrictions.

Investigators allege the pair sought to acquire fully automatic rifles, grenade launchers, sniper rifles, missiles, ammunition, and other military hardware, equipment that falls under strict U.S. export controls. Prosecutors say the weapons were intended to be routed through a third country to conceal their final destination.

The complaint further claims the defendants attempted to disguise the transaction by presenting it as a contract for consulting or humanitarian services and by mislabeling the items as communications or non-military equipment to bypass scrutiny.

South Sudan remains subject to a United Nations arms embargo, making any unauthorised weapons transfers illegal under both international and U.S. law.

If convicted, Ajak and Keech could face significant prison terms. Federal statutes covering conspiracy, smuggling, and illegal arms exports carry penalties that may reach up to 20 years per count, depending on how the court rules on the charges.

Legal analysts say this week’s hearing may address procedural matters, evidence issues, or scheduling ahead of a potential trial.

The case has drawn attention within South Sudanese and diaspora communities because of Ajak’s public profile. Known as a governance reform advocate and former political detainee in Juba, he previously worked with international policy institutions and spoke frequently on peacebuilding and democratic accountability in South Sudan.

His arrest last year surprised many supporters who viewed him primarily as a civil society figure rather than someone linked to armed activity. Friday’s appearance marks the latest step in a case that could take months to resolve.