Sudan’s Al-Bashir frees 259 rebels

Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir pardoned on Wednesday 259 rebels captured in a number of clashes and battles that took place with government troops during the past few years in Sudan.

“In a Wednesday presidential decree, President al-Bashir… overturned death sentences handed down against 259 prisoners of war associated with rebel movements active in Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile states,” the president’s office said in a statement.

The released insurgents include 66 rebels who had been sentenced to death.

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The president’s office statement explained that the presidential pardon decree overturned death penalties for 44 rebels arrested in the Omdurman clashes, 18 in the Donkey Baashim battle, and other four in the Calypso violent acts.

“The decision to pardon 259 rebels aims at preparing the environment for achieving lasting peace in the country,” the statement pointed out.

The move came days after a prominent rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), handed over on Sunday 125 captured Sudanese soldiers, who returned to Khartoum on Sunday after years in captivity.