Sudanese rebel movement releases 130 gov't army prisoners

The rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector on Saturday announced that it released 130 government army Prisoners of War (POWs).

"The SPLM Command, following consultations between the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, the Secretary-General and the Chief of Staff, has decided to release all the 130 POWs held by the movement," said the SPLM/northern sector in a statement Saturday.

"The movement command has made contacts with the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to hand over the POWs," it added.

According to the statement, President Museveni has actively contributed to making the necessary communications with Sudan and South Sudan to enable the ICRC to transport the POWs to Uganda through external crossings, and with the consent of all parties.

The SPLM/northern sector further reiterated its respect of the international humanitarian law and conventions relating to prisoners of war.

The SPLM/northern sector has been fighting Khartoum's central government at Blue Nile and South Kordofan areas since 2011.

So far 10 rounds of peace talks have been held in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/northern sector, under the patronage of the African Union, but all failed to end the conflict in the two areas. Endit