Local authorities aligned with the Riek Machar-led Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Akobo County, Jonglei State, said they have handed over three prisoners of war to reunite them with their families following recent fighting with government forces.
SPLM-IO forces recaptured Akobo, a county near the border with Ethiopia, from government troops on April 13 after clashes in the area.
John Wiyual Lul, the SPLM-IO-appointed county commissioner of Akobo, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the handover was conducted in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is also assisting in efforts to facilitate the release of additional captives.
“Following the recent escalation of violence, we handed over two PoWs who were originally captured from Pajut fighting; one more was handed over by the ICRC to his family in Panyijiar after he was captured wounded in Akobo fighting two weeks ago,” he said.
He said two Ugandan truck drivers captured during recent fighting in Akobo are now under the custody of Ethiopian authorities in the Gambella region. He added that SPLM-IO authorities are coordinating with the ICRC to transfer two female prisoners of war currently in their custody in the Barmach area.
The commissioner said the handover demonstrates that the group is a national political organization rather than a tribal militia, and he called for the return of civilians and humanitarian agencies to Akobo.
Separately, the opposition official denied SPLM-IO involvement in a recent attack in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA). He was responding to earlier accusations by GPAA Information Minister Jacob Werchum Jouk, who said SPLM-IO forces and the White Army attacked the Wuno area of Likuangole County, causing displacement and civilian casualties.
Efforts by Radio Tamazuj to reach Jonglei State officials and the ICRC for comment were unsuccessful.
and then