Authorities in South Sudan’s Wau state on Wednesday released 9 prisoners of war from the armed opposition faction loyal to former First Vice President Riek Machar after being in detained for several months.

The prisoners of war were accused of being rebel supporters.

Major General Michael Majur, commander of the SPLA army’s 5th infantry in Wau, said Wednesday that he had received instructions from the army chief of defence forces, General James Ajongo to release the detainees as part of a reconciliation initiative.

Major added that the detainees have spent between 3 and 10 months in detention.