SPLA eastern Sudan to be redeployed in three southern states

April 26, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has announced that its troops form eastern Sudan have been divided into three groups which will be heading to Malakal (Upper Nile State), Abyei [(est Kordofan) and Bentiu (Unity State).

The SPLA troops are on the move from eastern to southern Sudan and reached Rabak, White Nile State yesterday.

The SPLA further said that the remaining troops in the east of Sudan would be redeployed to the south of the 1956 borders at the beginning of May.

Head of the joint committee of the joint defence council Maj-Gen Alias Waya reiterated that the SPLA forces brigade, which arrived in Rabak yesterday, had been divided into three groups. He said that the largest group had moved over land from Rabak to Malakal and that the remaining two groups would be going to Bentiu and Abyei through Al-Ubayid.

Waya said that what remained of the SPLA infantry in the east of Sudan would be redeployed to the south of the 1956 borders at the beginning of May and would be travelling over land.

Waya thanked the Sudanese armed forces for helping the SPLA troops by providing 16 vehicles and 10 large carriers and for accompanying them to the areas where they will be settling.

(ST)