Five South Sudanese prisoners of war (POW) released by Khartoum arrived in Juba yesterday with assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross/Crescent (ICRC).
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj by phone on Tuesday, an ICRC spokesperson, Ewan Watson, confirmed that the organization facilitated the repatriation of the South Sudanese POWs from Nyala to Juba on Monday.
“Yes the International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated repatriation of five prisoners of war. They are South Sudanese prisoners of war and we brought them back from Nyala to Juba yesterday afternoon,” claimed Watson.
Asked about whether there were other prisoners of war left behind, Watson said that he could not confirm or deny this as, in addition to facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war, ICRC’s responsibility is limited to visiting them in prisons, knowing why they are detained and ensuring that they are treated well.
In the brief conflict fought between Sudan and South Sudan recently in the oil rich area of Heglig, South Sudan also captured prisoners of war from Sudan although it is reported to have released them later.
Related: SAF to release 5 South Sudanese prisoners on Monday (8 February 2013)