The release of three people by the SPLM-In opposition is a positive step towards peace in the country, the Chairman of the Opposition party, SPLM- DC, has said.

The three, including a government official, were detained in Ayod County of Jonglei State on Tuesday and were released on Thursday evening.

Dr. Lam Akol says the incident brings back history of how peace was achieved before independence.

He was addressing the media in Juba.

“I think it was something positive and it will work positive hopefully for peace because it has shown that people in the government, people in the armed opposition even the former detainees were all involved into seeing that these people are released,” Dr Akol told reporters.

“This reminds me by the way of an incident in December 1971 when a Sudan Airways plane crashed near Mundri and the survivors were taken by the Anya nya officers near the town.

“When they went back to Khartoum, they talked of very nice stories about what they saw, and it changed the image of the people who were there.

“And towards early January 1972, people started secret talks and Addis Ababa agreement came to existence after a month. So, such incidences can help.”

Dr. Akol urged the two warring parties to exert more efforts to end the crisis in the country.