October 10th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The International Committee of the Red cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday that it’s ready to facilitate the release of political detainees and Prisoners of War (POWs) as stipulated in the ongoing peace deal signed by South Sudan warring parties.
South Sudan government and opposition groups across the country signed a permanent ceasefire in June this year which also include the release of prisoners of war and political detainees.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the International Orgaization said the facilitation of the release of the prisoners is in line with the revitallized agreement signed in Addis Ababa in September and teh permanent ceasefire agreement signed in June.
““The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is prepared to facilitate the release of detainees for all parties to the conflict in South Sudan. This is in-line with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, which mentions the ICRC as a facilitator of persons detained in relation to the conflict,” it said in a statement seen by the Nyamilepedia.
In the statement, the head of delegation for the International Committee of the Red cross (ICRC), François Stamm, said they are committed to facilitating the release of the detainees, but added that, the ICRC will strictly adhere to its principles as an impartial and neutral facilitator that doesn’t take sides pointing to the role previouly played by the ICRC in the same issue.
“We have offered our services to all sides and confirmed our readiness to act as a neutral facilitator for the release of detainees. The ICRC has previously acted as a neutral intermediary in release operations in South Sudan and we will do so again at the request of the parties to the conflict and with the consent of detainees,” the statement added.
The ICRC reaffirmed that, it merely serves as an intermediary between warring parties, and facilitates such an operation with informed consent from detainees.
“As a neutral intermediary, the ICRC is not involved in any negotiations preceding any release of detainees. The ICRC facilitates the release with the consent of those detained who have the opportunity to share their concerns confidentially and then provides them with safe transport. The ICRC is in confidential dialogue with the parties to the conflict,” it added.
