A South Sudanese activist group has called on its government to respond to the sentencing of 22 South Sudanese citizens to death by a Khartoum court this week.

Radio Tamazuj reported yesterday that a Khartoum court sentenced the 22 southerners to hang. They were allegedly members of a Darfuri rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement-Peace Wing led by Bakhit Dabajo, but had returned to Khartoum to be absorbed into the army.

The Community Empowerment for Progress Organization said it was "disturbed and stressed" by the sentencing and said the matter requires immediate response from the government of South Sudan.

"Silence from our government is not encouraging but depressing," said CEPO's executive director Edmund Yakani. "Our ministry of foreign affairs or any relevant state institution should inform us the South Sudanese immediately without any delay...What level is the government involved in protecting the lives of those South Sudanese?"

"It is the primary obligation of the government of South Sudan to protect lives of South Sudanese anywhere," CEPO said. "We are expecting the government to make official statement on the matter."

The group further called on the national parliament to act if the relevant state institutions delay in making a public statement.

"It is a top national concern that requires immediate public information," said the group.