South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Monday ordered the release of 21 political prisoners, after a peace deal was signed earlier this month with rebel leader Riek Machar.

“The political detainees were released as a sign of peace in the country,’’ Deputy Information Minister Lilian Albino Akol told dpa. She declined to reveal their exact identities.

South Sudan’s government, rebel groups, and opposition parties signed a final peace agreement earlier this month, after weeks of negotiations and years of violence in the world’s youngest nation.

South Sudan descended into civil war in 2013 after Kiir accused Machar, then his vice president of plotting a coup.

The new deal will see the creation of a transitional government, with Machar reinstated as vice president.

Numerous previous agreements have collapsed after warring parties failed to respect the ceasefire.

Years of civil war have left tens of thousands of people dead, and about 4 million South Sudanese have fled the fighting.