Sudan rebels release over 130 army captives

By Mohammed Amin

KHARTOUM (AA) - A rebel Sudanese group said Saturday it has released more than 130 army prisoners.

In a statement, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/North (SPLM-N) said the freed prisoners have been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

“We have handed over more than 130 war prisoners to the ICRC,” SPLM-N said in the statement.

“They have been transported today through some special corridors to Uganda through South Sudan and they will be handed over to Sudan,” it confirmed.

Since 2011, the SPLM-N has waged an active insurgency against the Khartoum government in Sudan's southern Blue Nile and South Kordofan states.

Outlawed by Khartoum, the movement consists mainly of fighters who sided with the south during Sudan's decades-long civil war.

Twelve rounds of peace talks have failed to achieve any breakthrough between the government and SPLM-N.

Last year, the handover of more than 40 government captives failed with SPLM-N and the government trading accusations over the failure.