S. Sudan gov’t accused of delaying opposition forces arrival to Juba
March 21, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudan government is accused by the SPLM in opposition (SPLM-IO) led by former vice president and first vice president designate, Riek Machar, of refusing to issue security clearance to United Nations plane that was expected to airlift opposition forces to the national capital, Juba, on Monday.
“The first unit of forty (military) officers and men who were scheduled to arrive today, 21st March 2016 from Kaldak were delayed by JMEC [Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission] for logistical and administrative issues,” said Deng while speaking to reporters.
He said the officers are part of the joint integrated police (JIP) that will be in charge for the security of capital Juba for the thirty months of transitions period.
“The 23 senior officers for JIP who were also to arrive also today 21st March 2016 were also delayed because the government of the Republic of South Sudan denied UN flights clearance to Pagak,” he added.
SPLM-IO headquarters is Pagak at the border between South Sudan’s Upper Nile state and Ethiopia.
The failure of the SPLM-IO forces to arrive to Juba on Monday, he added, will delay formation of the transitional government of national unity. Machar has indicated that he will not return to Juba without prior implementation of the security arrangements in the capital as stipulated in the peace agreement signed in August 2015.
The opposition’s top leader was appointed first vice president by President Salva Kiir last month in accordance with the power sharing in the peace agreement.
Deng did not say when the SPLA-IO forces would be expected in Juba but took no responsibility for the delay.
“We (SPLM-IO) have always been ahead of our partners (government of South Sudan) on implementation of this agreement in spirit and letter to quickly rescue our country from imminent collapse and alleviate the suffering of our people,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we lack the needed resources to speed up the process as demanded by our people and we have made that abundantly clear to the government of South Sudan and all partners in this process.”
The United States, Norway and Britain which are the Troika countries for South Sudan said recently said that they would transport only light weapons of the opposition forces. The opposition group has described this position as “disarmament.”
Deng called on Juba “as the government of the day if JMEC and Troika fail to transport these forces” to take charge in transporting the forces with their light and heavy weapons.
According to the security arrangements agreed in February, 1370 opposition forces will be brought to Juba before arrival of their top leader, Machar.
The South Sudanese government is yet to comment on the opposition’s request to help transport their troops.
(ST)