Two Kenyan pilots held in South Sudan are not to be released until they pay compensation to the family of a civilian killed when their plane crashed, a rebel spokesman told Reuters on Tuesday.
Lamu Paul Gabriel, the rebel’s deputy spokesman said that the plane crashed in Akobi, in the Greater Upper Nile region killing one lady on the ground and five cows.
Gabriel further stated that the relatives of the lady and the owners of the cows want compensation.
“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.
Brigadier General Lul Ruai Koang, said that the plane had a technical problem, resulting in the crash-landing which killed the lady and the animals.
“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.
