{{Seven South Sudan leaders released from prison recently have called on Uganda to stop ‘ethnic cleansing’ in their country.}}
They accused the Yoweri Museveni administration of perpetrating the mass killing using helicopters.
“Uganda’s involvement in South Sudan has a negative role and our people know that they are currently engaged in ethnic cleansing in South Sudan,” said Mr Deng Alor Kuol, one of the seven who arrived in Addis Ababa last night for the second round of peace talks with the government.
Speaking at a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Hilton Addis Hotel, he called on the government of Uganda to end its military involvement in South Sudan.
“If you hear of any gunship helicopter killing in South Sudan, it is Ugandans. We in South Sudan do not have any gunship helicopter,” said Mr Kuol, a former minister in President Salva Kiir’s administration.
The group members, who were arrested following the December 15, 2013 coup attempt, also said the South Sudan Government was wasting money in the Uganda military intervention.
“In addition…it is a shame for South Sudan Government, as a sovereign country, to ask Uganda for help and allow interference in its internal affairs,” said Dr Cirino Hiteng, a group member.
The seven leaders indicated that they would take part in the second round talks as an independent third party, calling themselves ‘former political detainees’, according to their spokesman Mr John Luk Jok.
They also called on President Kiir to release their remaining four colleagues.
“We…call upon President Salva Kiir Mayardit to set free the remaining four detainees so that they can participate and contribute to the efforts in finding a lasting solution to the crisis in our country during these peace talks,” Mr Jok said.
NMG
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