71 inmates released after being pardoned by President Salva Kiir last week. (Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio.)

Some of the 71 inmates pardoned by President Salva Kiir have appealed to the country to forgive them for their wrongdoings as they return to their communities to rebuild their lives.

On Friday last week, President Kiir granted a presidential pardon to 36 inmates on death row and 35 others who were jailed for failing to pay compensations or court fines.

Those released include six women and 65 men who were convicted between 2001 and 2010.

They were eventually released today Friday from Juba Central Prison.

Speaking to Eye Radio, the inmates appreciated President Salva Kiir for pardoning them, and appealed to the nation to forgive them for their wrongdoing.

“I would say apologies to President Salva Kiir and to the government of South Sudan. I would also say apologies to the people and all the families of those we hurt,” said John (not his real name).

“To those who are out there who doesn’t know what prison means, I want to say from my heart from today, let people not commit crime again. I wish people should stop wrongdoing,” said another.

“My happiness and appreciation to our President Salva Kiir. May God bless him in what so ever we will be doing.”

Henry Kuany Aguor, the Director General of the South Sudan National Prison Service urged those released to be law-abiding citizens and ensure that they don’t commit another crime.

“If you get out from here, I urge you to protect yourselves, don’t go to bars or disco places. You should stay in a safe place to assess the situation and what the relatives of the deceased will say.”

“So if there are some people among you willing to serve at the Prison service, I will ask if there are positions in our budget, and I will recruit a few among you to be Prison warders.”

According to Juba Central Prison, there are currently 2,652 inmates serving different terms of which 221 are on death row.