The former political detainees have urged the government to release of those it calls ‘political prisoners and prisoners of conscience’.

These include the former Governor of Western Equatoria, Bangasi Joseph Bakosoro, and a lecturer at the University of Juba, Professor Leonzio Angole Onek.

In a statement, the group says Mr Bakosoro and Professor Angole have been in detention for more than three months without being charged and tried in court.

The detainees say the government should also review and lift the state of emergency as part of critical actions to create a good environment for fully implementing the peace deal.

In turn, the detainees would also take action to regain what they call international good will needed to improve the economy.

They also urge the president to take action at once to stop the practice of arbitrary arrest by entities that have no legal and constitutional mandate to make arrests.

The group says a travel ban has been imposed on them and wants the President to lift it.

Government officials were not immediately available for comment.