Sudanese minister says SPLA violates peace deal
July 25, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese minister of Defense accused the former rebel army of violating the peace agreement, he further said SPLA has no any role in tribes disarmament in southern Sudan according to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA).
The Minister of National Defense, Lt- Gen. Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein told the press that the abuses committed by the SPLA violate the terms of the CPA, explaining that the disarmament of the tribes in Southern Sudan came within the responsibility of the Commission of Disarmament, Demobilization and Re-integration (DDR) and it is not the responsibility of the SPLM army.
The minister added that there is no any role for the joint armed forces in the operations of the internal security in Khartoum State or in the Southern Sudan as stipulated in the provisions of the CPA, explaining that the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has no any role in the internal security and must remain in the camps, as stated in the CPA.
He pointed to the discipline regulations which was endorsed by the joint defence council aim to monitor the work of the joint forces, affirming the readiness of the armed forces to protect the security and the social peace.
He indicated that the internal security arrangements came within the work of the police according to the provisions of the CPA.
Hussien said the percentage of withdrawal of the armed forces from Bahrel-Ghazal and Equatoria States reaches 89%, adding that the armed forces has surpassed the percentage of 61.8% in pulling the armed forces from Southern Sudan according to the security arrangements of Naivasha agreement, calling on the SPLM to work to re-deploy its forces in the south.
He has affirmed that the movement of the armed forces and its deployment and re-deployment in South Kordofan State and the Blue Nile State and Abyei area is not restricted with security arrangements of the CPA
The deputy chief of staff of the joint armed forces, Lt-Gen Mohamed Ismail, presented a general enlightenment on plans, laws and regulations of the armed forces in the coming period.
(ST)