Government authorities in Aweil East County in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State have released 30 inmates from the Wanyok Central Prison following a ceremony held at the holding facility on Monday afternoon.
The released detainees were charged with different offenses by the Aweil East County Court (AECC) months ago and were unable to pay fines or obligations to their rightful owners, but their hope was reinstalled by Hope Africa South Sudan (HASS), a national organization that paid for their discharge.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj during the ceremony, the prison’s director, Colonel Benson Machol Kuol, said it was a great day to witness 30 prisoners departing, He revealed that 171 people are still behind bars.
“This is a great day for the Wanyjok Central Prison in Aweil East County because a good number of inmates were freed from the jail when an organization arrived and facilitated the release of 30 of them and the remaining convicts are 171,” he said.
One of the freed prisoners, Akook Manon, said he was thankful to Hope Africa South Sudan for paying their fines and freeing them. He urged other citizens to avoid committing crimes so that they would not face the same situation in the future.
“I want to thank the Hope Africa South Sudan (HASS) organization for the very important achievement they did today (Monday),” he stated. “My message to people outside and to us who are leaving this prison is not to commit crime and think that this an organization will be there to grant their release in future.”
Another prisoner who celebrated his exit, Daniel Taban, admitted that he was imprisoned after eloping with a girl. He vowed to mobilize the requisite bride price and pay it to his in-laws so that his intended wife could be returned to him.
“I was imprisoned because I eloped with a girl to marry her but I was brought here and there is nothing good in prison at all,” he narrated. “As I depart, I thank God for making it happen and my commitment is that I will gather dowry for my in-laws and I promise that I will not come back here again.”
The United Nations Human Rights provides funds to Hope Africa South Sudan to carry out similar activities in Aweil West and Aweil North counties.