South Sudan president pardons 15 prisoners on independence anniversary

JUBA – President Salva Kiir has announced that he has pardoned on independence anniversary at least 15 prisoners who have been jailed on various crimes across the world’s youngest country.

The president made the revelation during his key address to the nation to mark 10 years of independence for South Sudan which gained its independence from neighboring in July 2011 following decades of war.

“To mark this an important occasion, I am granting a full pardon to 15 prisoners who were serving jail terms in various prisons across South Sudan,” Kiir said in the address he issued from the state house J1 on Friday.

This also comes after the South Sudanese head of state announced that he is increasing by 100 percent salary of all civil servants.

“In the 2021-2022 budget, the government has resolved to increase salaries by 100 percent as phase one with immediate effect and fully review late on during the fiscal year when the economy improves,” Kiir told reporters in Juba.

“I am aware that our civil scales are not been paid on time and they have endured irregularly salaries payment for a long time and I am also aware that salary structure has not been reviewed since we reline our currency in 2015,” he added.

The president also reiterated the parties’ commitment to the revitalized peace agreement and said a force of 53,000 troops from various parties to the revitalized peace agreement is ready and will be graduated urgently.

“Fifty-three thousand forces from the entire security sector are now ready for graduation. We are committed to graduating them as a matter of urgency for security purposes,” Kiir added.