South Sudanese opposition groups that participated in the recent revitalization process on Wednesday said the government is having over 500 political detainees and prisoners of war.

South Sudan’s presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said they have no political prisoners.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Wazir Michael, a rebel official allied to Thomas Cirilo’s group said the opposition alliance considered those more than 500 were political detainees and prisoners of war and their release was crucial after the signing of the cessation of hostilities agreement in Ethiopia on 21 December 2017.

He pointed out that the opposition had presented a list of political detainees and prisoners of war to the ceasefire monitoring body so that they are released by the government.

Wazir claimed that the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo had already revealed all areas under its control as part of the peace agreement.

Article 8 of the cessation of hostilities deal says each party should unconditionally release all prisoners of war, political detainees and abducted women and children to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) without delay.