President Salva Kiir - June 22, 2022. Photo credit: PPU

President Salva Kiir has pardoned sixteen prisoners serving minor sentences from different prisons across the country.

The inmates from Juba Central Prison, Yambio Prison, Kuajok Prison, and Rumbek Prison will be acquitted soon.

But the prisoners have not been mentioned.

In his New Year message, President said he pardoned the prisoners in the spirit of forgiveness.

“In this spirit of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation, I am pardoning sixteen prisoners who are currently serving their sentences in Juba, Yambio, Kuajok and Rumbek,” the president said on the national television – SSBC.

Kiir further urged South Sudan to embrace peace and reconciliation in the new year as the country prepares to welcome Pope Francis next month.

On the eve of independence day last year, President Kiir also pardoned 15 prisoners from across the country.