S. Sudan releases two political detainees, calls for ceasefire
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December 27, 2013 (JUBA) – South Sudan on Friday released two of the
11 senior members of its ruling party (SPLM) held in connection with
an alleged failed coup attempt in the country, two weeks ago.
JPEG - 26.7 kb
Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta meeting South Sudan’s political
detainees in Juba December 26, 2013 (Photo: Moses Lomoyat)
The state-owned SSTV said Peter Adwok Nyaba, an ex-minister for higher
education and Deng Deng Akon, who served as director in the former
vice-president’s office were released, but gave no details on the
other detainees.
Their release comes a day after Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta and
Ethiopian prime minster Hailemarian Desalegne visited the detainees in
the capital, Juba.
The two leaders, sources told Sudan Tribune pressed for the release of
these politicians to bolster the ongoing peace efforts, seeking an end
to the violence that led to nearly 1,000 deaths and displaced over
50,000 civilians.
Salva Kiir, the South Sudanese president blamed his former deputy Riek
Machar of instigating the incident, an allegation the latter has
denied.
Since then, however, there have been several regional and diplomatic
efforts in search for peace and stability in the new nation.
On Friday, regional leaders under the Intergovernmental Authority on
Development (IGAD) hinted on the possibility of a power sharing
agreement in South Sudan during a meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya.
President Kiir on Friday accepted immediate cessation of hostilities
in what is seen as a positive signal to progress in talks being
brokered by regional leaders.
AU WARNS PARTIES
The African Union, in a communiqué issued Friday, welcomed South Sudan
government’s commitment to an immediate cessation of hostilities,
calling on Machar and other parties to make similar commitments.
The continental body, however, warned that it would consider taking
further measures, if hostilities were not ceased within four days from
its communique.
It also condemned what is described as the “bankrupt” and
“opportunistic” ideology of ethnic and religious sectarianism, and
urged all parties to refrain from steps that will inflame the conflict
further particularly along ethnic and sectarian lines.
The AU called on all humanitarian actors to act quickly and provide
all necessary assistance to all civilians and specifically calls on
the government of South Sudan and all armed groups to open
humanitarian corridors and ensure protection of civilians.
The UN has issued an appeal for $166m to address the humanitarian
needs of thousands affected by the worst-ever conflict in the
country’s post-cessation era.
(ST)
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