South Sudanese rebels vow not to release prisoners of war

[Elisabeth Janaina]

South Sudanese rebels vow not to release prisoners of war

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September 24, 2017 (JUBA) - South Sudan rebels allied to the country’s
ex-First Vice President, Riek Machar have confirmed the capture of 14
government officials, but vowed not to release them.

JPEG - 9.2 kb
Rebel fighters aligned with former vice-president Riek Machar march
through a village inside rebel-controlled territory in South Sudan’s
Upper Nile state on 9 February 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

A spokesperson for the rebel group, in a statement, claimed the
captives were a security threat and will be treated as war criminals.

Col. Paul Lam Gabriel said their forces remain in full control of
Akobo county and its surrounding areas, adding that their forces
remained on high alert in the wake of Saturday’s attack by government
forces.

“Akobo is under the control of SPLA-IO [Sudan People’s Liberation
Army-In Opposition] not the Juba regime and, so any government agent
sent by [President] Kiir elements is considered an enemy and will be
dealt with according to rules and regulations of the SPLA-IO,” he
said.

The South Sudanese government on Saturday called for the
“unconditional” release of 14 officials captured by rebels on
Wednesday near its border with Ethiopia.

Dickson Gatluak, a military spokesman for the armed opposition faction
loyal to the First Vice President, Taban Deng Gai, said armed youth
linked to exiled rebel leader, Riek Machar detained at least 14
members of the peace delegation in Akobo county, Bieh state.

"SPLA-IO is calling for the unconditional release of 14 members of
peace mission delegates who went to Akobo purposely to embrace and
disseminate peace messages," Gatluak said in a statement.

"These persons are not for military mission but civil administrators
who are there on the ground for peace," he added.

Among those held captive, he said, is the commissioner of Akobo
county, Tut Chai Riek, stressing that all the detainees’ are
civilians.

The South Sudanese civil war, now in its fourth year, has killed tens
of thousands of people and displaced millions since its eruption in
2013. But a peace agreement signed in August 2015 between the
country’s warring parties led to the formation of the coalition
government.

(ST)