Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny is calling for an ‘immediate’ ceasefire and urged the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) to stop facilitation of defections from the SPLM-IO.
This comes days after the group pulled out from its participation in the security mechanisms and peace monitoring bodies such as the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) and Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM).
The group had pointed to escalatory attacks on its bases in both Unity and Upper Nile states where forces belonging to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and army commanders defecting from the SPLA-IO have been launching attacks on SPLA-IO bases in the two states.
In a statement, Machar called for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces troops from areas that it recently recaptured from the SPLA-IO in both Unity and Upper Nile states.
“There must be an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of the SSPDF from the areas. forcefully taken from the SPLM/A (10) namely; Mirmir, Wath-Thiech, Joknyang in Unity State, Turu, Jiokow in Upper Nile State and all other areas violently occupied by the SSPDF in violation of the COHA signed on December 21, 2017 and the Permanent Ceasefire and Security Arrangements,” Machar said in a statement on Saturday.
Machar said in the statement that “There is an urgent need to investigate all violations of the Cessation of Hostilities. Agreement, beginning with the most recent ones, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
“The SSPDF must immediately desist from executing its pending planned attacks on SPLM/SPLA (IO) cantonment sites and training centers throughout the country. The ITGONU must immediately stop facilitation of military defections as these undermine the Security Arrangements in Chapter 2 of the R-ARCSS.”
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