The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) facilitated the release of four persons detained during the conflict between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces on 3 February 2022.
ICRC’s head of delegation in South Sudan, Pierre Dorbes, said in a statement on Thursday that they arranged the safe transportation of the detainees to Juba.
“We continue to offer our services to all parties to the conflict to act as a neutral intermediary for the release of detainees whenever requested. Our teams on the ground have arranged and ensured the safe transport of these former detainees to Juba, and we are happy they can be reunited with their families.”
ICRC says it has facilitated the release of 193 persons detained concerning the conflict in South Sudan since 2018 when the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS) was signed.
The December 2017 Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities, Protection of Civilians and Humanitarian Access signed between the parties designated the ICRC as a neutral intermediary for the release of detainees, as well as a supervisor for the release of detainees in Chapter II of the R-ARCSS.
The agreement allows ICRC to visit places of detention across South Sudan to monitor the treatment and living conditions of detainees.