JUBA, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Sudan People's Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) loyal to South Sudan's former deputy president Riek Machar said on Monday that they have released 15 government soldiers to the International Committee Red Cross (ICRC) as required by a recent cease-fire agreement.
Lam Paul Gabriel, SPLA-IO Deputy Military Spokesperson, said the prisoners of war were released on Sunday in KoloPach airstrip, in the eastern state of Jonglei.
He said another group of 11 prisoners of war refused to return to the capital, Juba for fear of persecution from the government, adding that they have been allowed to live among displaced people in the same region where they were detained.
"This is the third time the SPLA-IO is showing compliance with the Cessation of Hostilities (COH) agreement signed on Dec. 21 last year while other partners have not yet complied," Lam said.
"The Leadership of the SPLA-IO appreciates the field commanders and the State leadership for keeping these POWs safe and helping them get reunited with their families wherever they may be," he added.
According to the COH agreement signed between the government and several rebel groups in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, all parties agreed to release political detainees and prisoners of war and hand them to the Red Cross within 14 days.
The agreement also called on the warring parties to surrender children enlisted or recruited in their ranks to the UN children's agency UNICEF in the stipulated period.
ICRC could not confirm or deny release of the detainees but said in a statement on Sunday that it had informed the parties to the South Sudan conflict of its readiness to act as neutral intermediary in facilitating release of detained persons.
Francois Stamm, Head of Delegation for the ICRC in South Sudan, said the ICRC aims to secure humane treatment and conditions of detention for all those deprived of their liberty, regardless of the reasons for their arrest and detention.
He added that the ICRC seeks to alleviate the suffering of their families, particularly by restoring communication between detainees and their relatives.
"We have approached the various parties concerned in what will remain a bilateral and confidential dialogue and have already facilitated a number of releases.
"Our role is to make any potential related release possible and ensure that those released are transported voluntarily and safely, not to play a part in negotiating or comment on the implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities by the parties," Stamm said.
South Sudan has been embroiled in four years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people, creating one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.
A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April 2016, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.
