Kitab Unango
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has denied allegations by the ceasefire monitoring body last week that they are occupying the opposition’s cantonment sites.
The Chairperson of the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), Lt. Gen. Asrat Denero, expressed concerns that there was ‘‘continuous occupation of the SPLA-IO cantonment sites in Unity and Upper Nile states by the SSPDF.’’
At CTSAMVM Board Meeting last week, Denero appealed to the SSPDF to withdraw from MirMir, Liang, and Jekou cantonments and allow the return of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) to those sites.
“CTSAMVM remains concerned about the continued occupation of MirMir, Liang, and Jekou cantonment cites in Unity and the Upper Nile states respectively by SSPDF and/or its affiliates,” said Denero.
“These cantonment sites were designated for SPLM/A-IO and therefore, CTSAMVM appeals to SSPDF to withdraw and allow SPLM/A-IO to re-occupy the areas.
The SSPDF Spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai, questioned the report, asking: “When did the SSPDF reoccupy the cantonment sites?”
Lul wondered whether there were renewed clashes in those locations.
“Let CTSAMVM mention when the SSPDF reoccupied MirMir cantonment sites,” Maj. Gen. Lul said.
Splits within SPLM/A-IO breakaway factions have triggered infighting between factions led by Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual and his former deputy Gen. Johnson Olony over the administrative issues, part of which is the implementation of the Khartoum Peace Agreement they signed with SPLM-IG.
The group accused their former boss, the First Vice President Dr Riek Machar, of prolonging the security arrangement implementation before they later signed a deal with President Salva Kiir to join SSPDF under the Khartoum deal.
Since then Kit-Gwang infighting has continued in several areas, including northern Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Unity states. In March this year, SPLA-IO forces were ousted from Mirmir cantonment site by the group.
Parties last month launched the graduation of first batches of the 52,000 peace forces. Thie process is due to be completed by October to pave the way for the training of the second batch.
But according to CTSAMVM, the continued occupation of the SPLA-IO cantonment sites could affect the processes of cantoning, screening, training, graduation, and redeployment of the second batch of the necessary unified forces.
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