South Sudan president lays out conditions for releasing political detainees

South Sudanese president Salva Kiir Mayardit says he will only release political detainees, who accuses of participating in an alleged failed coup, if it can be proved that others were in fact responsible for atrocities committed over the last week.

“Whenever I receive a call from some members of the international community, one of the things they tell me is to release political detainees”, Kiir said his first address to South Sudanese members of parliament on Monday since the violence began on 15 December. “I am ready for dialogue and to release […] these people. I can pardon them if you can [show] me someone who would be held accountable for atrocities they have committed in this senseless war. If I leave them to just go, who would be held responsible?” Kiir asked. “You have heard conditions Riek Machar had given. One of these conditions is that I should step down. The other is that political detainees should be release before going for dialogue”, Kiir told members of parliament. Kiir said he was not surprised to hear the conditions because it was not the first his former deputy has called for the resignation of someone above him. “I was not shaken because this was not the first time. He made similar conditions in 1991 when he attempted to depose John Garang. One of the first conditions was that Garang must go and the release for the political detainees. Democratic reforms and human right issues also came up but what happened when he formed his own movement? He became the worse” offender, Kiir said.

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PaanLuel Wël

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PaanLuel Wël is the founder and editor-in-chief of PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd, a news website that covers news, opinions, analysis, history, culture and literature of South Sudan and the world. Founded in July 2011 by PaanLuel Wël to create a platform for free expression and constructive dialogue, the website features articles from various contributors, including columnists, commentators, poets, authors, activists and academics. PaanLuel Wël believes that media can play a vital role in informing, educating and empowering the people to participate in nation-building and social transformation. He also believes that media can foster a culture of dialogue, tolerance and diversity among different communities and groups, and hopes to inspire and mentor the next generation of South Sudanese writers and journalists.

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