Human Rights defenders demand release of James Gatdet and other political prisoners

Human Rights Defenders from the Great Lakes Region have called on the government to release prisoner James Gatdet, former spokesperson for South Sudanese opposition leader Riek Machar who was sentenced to death last month.

In a petition signed by more than 20 Human Rights defenders from South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi, the Human Rights defenders demanded James Gatdet be released on grounds that he is a victim of political manipulations.

Biel Butros Biel, the Director South Sudan Human Rights Society for Advocacy said political interests motivated the sentence.