Rebel group releases nine war prisoners in Juba  

JUBA – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North led by Abdul Aziz al-Hilu (SPLM-N) on Thursday released nine prisoners of war in Juba.

The prisoners from the Sudanese Army’s Reserve Forces (RF) were captured in Nuba Mountains a few weeks ago by the forces loyal to SPLM-North.

They were captured after they penetrated deep inside a rebel-held area and clashed with its fighters.

The prisoners were handed over to Tut Gatluak, Presidential Advisor on Security Affairs and head of the Sudanese peace talk’s mediation committee in Juba on Thursday.

“Today is a good day, as you have witnessed, the SPLM-North under Abdulaziz al Hilu has handed over prisoners of war, since we signed a ceasefire, there is no exchange of fire, there is respect for ceasefires,” Gatluak said at a press conference held in Juba this morning.

Gatluak disclosed that he will hand the prisoners of war to the government of Sudan.

“When the forces were captured in Nuba Mountain, Sudan leadership talk to president Kiir to talk to SPLM-North to release the youth, and Abdul-Aziz accepted the request, and forces are handed over to the South Sudan government to hand them over to the Sudan government,” he said.

Amar Amun, Secretary General for SPLM-North said they have been releasing prisoners of war since the start of the war.

“We are releasing 9 prisoners of war and Sudan has not released even a single person, it is not the first time in the history of SPLM-North to release detained prisoners of war, in 2016 SPLM-North released 126 including officers with the rank of colonel from SAF and last year 2021, we released 4 detainees,” said Amun.

Amun said they released them on humanity grounds so that they would join their families.

“We have released just on humane reasons, just to join their families and to know that, as individuals, we do not have problems with them but we have problems with the government but also to show good intention and good heart of SPLM-North,” he said.

Jamal Malik, Ambassador of Sudan to South Sudan said his government is ready to work for the realization of peace in Sudan.

“The Sudan government is ready to work for the realization of peace, we are ready to come to Juba for the peace talks, Juba forum is accessible, neutral and good to achieve peace comprehensive peace in Sudan,” Malik said.