JUBA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Over 30 political detainees were released from prison on Thursday in fulfillment of a presidential amnesty declared by South Sudanese president Salva Kiir, presidency said on Friday.
Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said all political detainees have been freed across the East African country as part of the ongoing national dialogue.
"There are no more political detainees now in South Sudan. All those who were detained on political basis were released yesterday (Thursday)," Ateny said.
The South Sudanese leader in March pardoned all political prisoners, including three top officials who were arrested in June 2016 following outbreak of violence in the northwestern town of Wau.
Ateny said the amnesty will not apply to prisoners such as the James Gatdet Dak, former spokesman of rebel leader Riek Machar who was deported last year from Kenya, who he said are accused of committing crimes against the state.
"The national security cases are not discussed, and it will only be the courts of laws to decide," Ateny said.
South Sudan has been devastated by more than three years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people.
Tens of thousands of South Sudanese have been killed, communities divided along ethnic lines and millions displaced since December 2013.
