South Sudan President Salva Kiir has ordered the release of all "prisoners of war and detainees" as part of the new peace agreement. This is a welcome move, but Kiir should go a step further and release those held without charge in violation of international law and investigate all allegations of abuse and torture of detainees.
Since the outbreak of South Sudan's conflict, government security forces, particularly its national security agency, have consistently targeted people seen to oppose the government based on their political opinion and not criminal acts. These include journalists, human rights defenders, and members of political opposition groups. They are often held for long periods - years, in some cases -without access to lawyer or family visits.
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