JUBA, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's main rebel group, the Sudan People's Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), on Wednesday denied holding prisoners of war (POWs) and political detainees in its ranks, amid reports that the rebels are still holding some prisoners.
The government and several rebel groups on Sept. 12 signed a new power-sharing deal aimed at ending the conflict that has devastated the world's youngest nation.
The pact demanded the parties to free all prisoners detained in relation to the conflict. South Sudan's national security service early this month said it had freed at least 20 detainees following the signing of the peace agreement.
Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO deputy military spokesperson, said his group has no prisoners to free since all persons detained by the SPLA-IO were released early this year.
"We don't have prisoners of war and political detainees. We were the first to release prisoners of war and political detainees when the cessation of hostilities agreement was signed last year, and we released all prisoners in January," Gabriel told Xinhua by phone.
South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013, and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.
The UN estimates that about 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally. A peace deal signed in August 2015 collapsed in July 2016, following renewed violence in the capital, Juba.
Newer articles:
- Opinion: Wrong war and the search for peace in South Sudan - 17/10/2018 17:09
- Sudan appoints new peace envoy to S.Sudan - 17/10/2018 17:08
- 'Other Nobel' Goes To Amazingly Humble Surgeon In South Sudan - 17/10/2018 16:36
- 270,000 children in South Sudan at risk of starvation, some 20,000 expected to die from extreme hunger - 17/10/2018 16:01
- South Sudan peace process top of agenda as Uhuru hosts South Africa’s Deputy President - 17/10/2018 08:20
Older news items
- South Sudan army raped, killed children - UN - 17/10/2018 07:04
- South Sudan denies killing, maiming children during conflict - 17/10/2018 05:38
- South Sudan seeks to transform agriculture to help beat hunger by 2030 - 17/10/2018 01:28
- Peace at Last for South Sudan? That May Depend on the Price of Oil - 16/10/2018 18:40
- South Sudan’s 2019 Afcon qualifying chances come crashing down - 16/10/2018 12:34
Latest news items (all categories):
- Call For Restraint Within the SPLA-IO - 18/09/2026 14:50
- Pinglu Canal: From a shorter route to closer China - ASEAN ties - 18/09/2026 14:20
- Nuclear Realism and Japan’s Choice: The Comparative Limitations of the Saudi Model and the Justification for Independent Nuclear Armament under a "Three-Front Nuclear Threat" - 18/09/2026 14:05
- South Sudan 2026 Elections: Bill Before Parliament Keeps Salva Kiir in Office - 18/09/2026 13:55
- At least 26 killed in South Sudan tribal clashes - 18/09/2026 13:49
Random articles (all categories):
- Sudan delays oil pipeline closure: Ethiopia - 26/07/2013 14:16
- Chinese doctors train South Sudan students in traditional medicine - 02/08/2019 11:21
- South Sudanese flood into Ethiopia amid desperate conditions - 15/04/2014 20:13
- Displaced South Sudanese appeal to UN to urgently send more troops - 03/09/2016 15:15
- Sudan's Parliament approves much-delayed independent electoral commission - 18/11/2008 21:24
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 149680 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 28123 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25205 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24471 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22426 times
