Aerial view of Wau town 2013 - Photo by Nichola Mandil/Eye Radio

The Governor of Wau State, Elias Waya, says he intends to meet President Salva Kiir and National Security officials to facilitate release of prisoners of war in the area.

Journalist George Livio Bahara, Father Justin Wanawilla, a Catholic Priest from the Diocese of Wau, Martin Agustino Daud, Logistics Officer of the Catholic Diocese of Wau, and Mohamed Wol were arrested more than a year ago over alleged connections with the armed rebellion.

The men were accused of mobilizing the community of Wau to join the SPLM- In Opposition.

They were brought to Juba and since then, they have been in detention without trial.

“We are going to help restore the social fabric of the state,” Governor Waya told a community gathering on Saturday. “If there are mistakes that have been committed, people should forget them.”

According to the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, all prisoners of war on both sides were supposed to be released immediately after the signing of the agreement in August.

General Waya said President Salva Kiir in his New Year message, announced a general pardon for all prisoners of war.

So far there has been no announcement of the release of prisoners of war by the parties to the conflict.