In a presidential decree read on state television (SSTV) on Monday, October 7, Kiir pardoned Peter Abdalrahman Sule, who allegedly started a rebellion to topple the government two years ago, and opposition leader Lam Akol from the SPLM-DC.
Kiir also pardoned former militia leaders Gabriel Tanginya, Gatwech Dual, Mabor Dhol and Simon Gatwech Joak, who were accused of fighting a proxy war on behalf of the Khartoum government.
As Charlton Doki reports from Juba, civil society activists say, the move is a step toward bringing peace to the country: