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S. Sudan rebels demand compensation to release Kenyan pilots

S. Sudan rebels demand compensation to release Kenyan pilots

South Sudan

South Sudanese rebels are holding two Kenyan pilots and will not release them until compensation is paid to the family of a civilian killed when their plane crashed, a rebel spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday.

The plane crashed in Akobo, in the Greater Upper Nile region, two weeks ago, Lam Paul Gabriel, the rebels’ deputy spokesman, said.

“When the plane crashed, it took a life. There was a lady that was killed and also there were some animals killed. The relatives of the lady and the owners of the cows are complaining they want compensation,” he said.

“They (Kenyan leaders) have to write an official letter to Dr. Riek Machar and it will come to us to inform of an order, then we will release him.”

Machar, the country’s former vice president, is the head of the largest rebel faction but has been held under house arrest in South Africa since 2016.

South Sudan’s military spokesman confirmed the two pilots were being held.

“The plane had a technical problem. It crash-landed and killed a person on the ground,” said Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang.

“The (rebel) SPLA-IO-appointed governor of the area has demanded the ransom of $200,000 which is beyond normal compensation for any person killed,” he added.

The Kenyan foreign ministry said it was unable to comment, although local media had earlier reported that the Kenyan ambassador of South Sudan, Cleland Leshore had established contact with the rebels.

“The rebel commander communicated with Machar and they are waiting for him to okay the release of the abducted Kenyans.

“The government in Juba is also playing a big role to secure their release,” Leshore said.

The owner of the crashed plane and the wife of one of the pilots have told local media that they are in touch with the rebels.

‘‘I spoke with my husband and he is frail. He suffers from high blood pressure. He needs urgent medical care.’‘

“I am requesting the Government to please step in so that they can be released,” Mrs Njoroge said.

She said her husband said they were safe but were being fed one meal per day.

Captain Njoroge and co-pilot Keneddy Shamalla were flying the Kenyan-owned Cessna Caravan 5Y FDC plane that had been hired by a Juba-based non-governmental organisation to ferry its staff to the Upper Nile State when the crash occurred at 4.45pm on January 7.

On September 24, last year, the SPLA-IO rebels captured 14 Southern Sudan government officials whom they are yet to release claiming that the captives were a security threat.

Oil-rich South Sudan has been riven by civil war since 2013. The conflict has displaced a third of the population, shut down most of the oil production and wrecked the economy.

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