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JUBA - 26 Oct 2018

Authorities urged to hand over Marko Lokidor to ICRC in Juba

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) has called on the government to hand over the former governor who was released from detention to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The former SPLM-IO governor of Kapoeta, Marko Lokidor Lochapio and four others were freed by the Internal Security Service in Juba on Thursday.

Puok Both Baluang, the SPLM-IO's director for information, told Radio Tamazuj that they heard of their former governor’s release via the media on Thursday, but noted that they were never informed officially.

The opposition official further said the ICRC staff were not present at the releases, adding the release of all political detainees under the supervision of the ICRC is required by the peace deal.

“We welcome the release of the five political detainees, but we are gravely concerned over their safety in Juba because the ICRC was not involved,” he said.

He pointed out that the ICRC is the only neutral facilitator for the release of all detainees in the revitalized peace deal. “We are not sure whether Marko Lokidor is in good health condition or not.” he said.

Pouk called on the government to release all prisoners of war and political detainees who have been held for months or even years to foster goodwill and reconciliation in the country.

He said many detainees are still being held by the government.

Government officials could not immediately be reached for comment.