Four senior politicians accused over an alleged coup plot that sparked
South Sudan's civil war have been freed after the government dropped the
treason charges against them.
The charges against the four politicians carried the maximum sentence of death and related to an alleged coup attempt on 15 December
Justice Minister Paulino Wanawilla said on Thursday April 24,2014 that the case was being dropped in the interest of peace and reconciliation.
President Salva Kiir told journalists that they had been "encouraged" to stay in the country and work for peace.
He also said the prosecution could be revived "any time they are needed".
The 4 leaders are -
Conflict first broke out in the capital, Juba, between troops loyal to South Sudan President Salva Kiir and those allied with his sacked deputy,Riek Machar
It later spread to other parts of South Sudan, with numerous reports of ethnic killings.
President Kiir accused Riek Machar of instigating a coup - but Riek Machar denied the allegation and branded Salva Kiir a "genocidal leader" who started the war by carrying out a purge of his enemies.
Charges remain against Riek Machar, who fled the capital and is leading the rebellion.
Both sides have been implicated in atrocities and war crimes, and fighting has intensified with the rebels saying they are closing in on northern oil fields and several key towns.
Thousands of civilians have been killed so far in the conflict and the United Nations has warned of the added risk of a famine.
The charges against the four politicians carried the maximum sentence of death and related to an alleged coup attempt on 15 December
Justice Minister Paulino Wanawilla said on Thursday April 24,2014 that the case was being dropped in the interest of peace and reconciliation.
President Salva Kiir told journalists that they had been "encouraged" to stay in the country and work for peace.
He also said the prosecution could be revived "any time they are needed".
The 4 leaders are -
- Pagan Amum, ex-secretary general of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)
- Oyai Deng Ajak,ex-National Security Minister
- Majak D'Agoot,former Defence Minister and
- Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth,former ambassador to the US
Conflict first broke out in the capital, Juba, between troops loyal to South Sudan President Salva Kiir and those allied with his sacked deputy,Riek Machar
It later spread to other parts of South Sudan, with numerous reports of ethnic killings.
President Kiir accused Riek Machar of instigating a coup - but Riek Machar denied the allegation and branded Salva Kiir a "genocidal leader" who started the war by carrying out a purge of his enemies.
Charges remain against Riek Machar, who fled the capital and is leading the rebellion.
Both sides have been implicated in atrocities and war crimes, and fighting has intensified with the rebels saying they are closing in on northern oil fields and several key towns.
Thousands of civilians have been killed so far in the conflict and the United Nations has warned of the added risk of a famine.
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