The seven men were released Wednesday and taken to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, under an agreement between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Four other detainees, including the former secretary-general of South Sudan's ruling party, Pagan Amum, remain in custody in Juba and are due to face trial on treason charges.
South Sudanese authorities arrested the 11 soon after President Kiir accused his rival Riek Machar of launching a coup attempt on December 15 -- a charge Machar has denied.
Fighting in Juba that night set off several weeks of clashes that have displaced more than a half-million South Sudanese.
South Sudan's justice minister Paulino Wanawila said Tuesday that Machar will be brought to court as well if he is apprehended.
Speaking on behalf of the detainees sent to Kenya, former Justice Minister John Luk Jok said Wednesday that he and his colleagues are sad about the "tragic situation" in South Sudan and feel a duty to see their country restored to normalcy.
The government and rebel forces signed a cease-fire agreement last week in Ethiopia, but both sides have accused the other of violations.
Source http://www.voanews.com/content/south-sudan-releases-7-key-political-detainees-to-kenya/1840301.html
Newer articles:
- South Sudan ceasefire monitors needed urgently, envoys say - 31/01/2014 10:57
- South Sudan: Despite Ceasefire, a Long Road Ahead in South Sudan - 31/01/2014 08:24
- South Sudan: South Sudan Urged to Probe Atrocities - 31/01/2014 07:08
- South Sudan's partial prisoner release risks undoing peace agreement - 30/01/2014 20:23
- South Sudan coup charges 'baseless' - 29/01/2014 20:59
Older news items
- South Sudan to put rebel leaders on trial, risking ceasefire - 29/01/2014 16:38
- South Sudan Frees 7 Detainees Accused of Coup Plot - 29/01/2014 16:33
- South Sudan hands most rebel detainees to Kenya - 29/01/2014 14:57
- South Sudan frees seven detainees accused of coup plot - 29/01/2014 14:41
- South Sudan to try rebel leaders - 29/01/2014 12:48
Latest news items (all categories):
- Juba commissioner denies chasing foreigners - 07/10/2026 14:36
- Australia: 19-year-old from South Sudan arrested over a wild joy ride - 07/10/2026 14:33
- South Sudan’s aid crisis deepens as food stocks run low - 07/10/2026 14:29
- South Sudan’s Juba warns foreigners against running small-scale businesses - 07/10/2026 14:25
- Peace Dialogues foster social cohesion in Nyirol County after persisting tensions - 07/10/2026 14:23
Random articles (all categories):
- China’s rail spending spree in Africa is over but it’s still laying down the tracks - 27/06/2021 00:00
- Sudan: Four Miners Still Missing in Northern State After Shaft Collapse Kills 14 - 04/04/2023 03:36
- Doctors: Security forces kill protester near Sudan's capital - 01/03/2023 02:04
- CPA next Celebrations in WES: What Corruption lessons learned from Upper Nile State? - 17/09/2009 18:46
- South Sudan president fires ministers allied to rival Machar - 03/08/2016 02:04
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 150667 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 28189 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25301 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24531 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22490 times
