Community leadership in South Sudan’s Wau state have launched an appeal seeking the release of political detainees who hail from the area before the start of the national dialogue called for by President Salva Kiir.
Speaking at a meeting held in Wau town, John Gou, one of the community leaders in Wau, said that they welcome the national dialogue called for by President Kiir to bring about peace in South Sudan.
“Personally, I congratulate President Salva Kiir for his call to launch the national dialogue. We, the people of Wau, we accept the national dialogue, and we are implementing it, but we want the government to release those who were detained in after violence in Wau,” said John.
The community leader called on the national government to release all the political detainees who hail from the area including those who were detained after the 2012 incident to create a conducive environment for the national dialogue across the country.
For his part, Andrea Mayar, governor of Wau state, said in an interview with a local radio in Wau town on Sunday that his government is working hard to release the political detainees for the sake of peace and reconciliation in the state.
The state official noted that his government is working closely with the national government for the release of political detainees who hail from Wau state.