10 supporters of the rebel group National Salvation Front (NAS) in South Sudan’s Yei River State have been released, a government official said.
NAS is a rebel group led by ex-deputy army chief for logistics, Thomas Cirillo.
The state information minister, Azariah Duku Enocka told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that government security agencies arrested the youth late last year for coordinating rebel activities in the area.
Duku said the state governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony, ordered the release of the detained youth last week in a move aimed at promoting reconciliation and efforts to support peace in the state.
All the freed suspects, he said, reunited with their families last week.
“I want to inform the public that 10 people loyal to the National Salvation Front rebel forces who were arrested by the government security have been released. Because of our commitment to implement the peace agreement, we have released all of them and they have gone to their communities,” said Duku.
One of the detainees, speaking to Radio Tamazuj on condition of anonymity, confessed to having coordinated rebel activities in the area.
“I was arrested in Yei town by government security agents. We were mistreated, beaten, tortured with no access to medication, quality food or even arraigned before a lawyer or court,” he narrated.
NAS officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
One of the areas badly affected by South Sudan’s civil war, Yei has witnessed human rights violations and massive displacement since 2016.