SPLA-IO first batch of forces arrive in Juba
March 28, 2016 (JUBA) – A first batch of the opposition forces of SPLA-IO has arrived in the South Sudanese capital, Juba, on Monday, kicking off the transportation and deployment of a total number of 1,370 soldiers and police forces in the first phase of the 2,910 forces for deployment in the capital.
In a statement to journalists at Juba Airport, minister of information and broadcasting, Michael Makuei Lueth, commended the arrival of the first batch, saying it marked the beginning of the arrival of the opposition forces.
“A first group of 39 SPLM-IO soldiers arrived in Juba today as part of implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan,” Lueth said at the airport.
He said the arrival of the opposition forces, and many more to come in the next few days, will soon be followed by the return to Juba of the opposition leader, Riek Machar, who is the first vice president designate in accordance with the peace agreement signed in August 2015.
“We are happy to receive today in Juba the first batch of the SPLM-IO forces. These forces comprise of 39 officers, NCOs and men. This is the first group that has arrived and the rest will continue to arrive with time. We are happy to receive them today,” Lueth added.
He called on the troika countries that facilitated their transportation to Juba to continue to transport the rest of the forces.
“And by the end of this week I hope that the required number that is supposed to report to Juba will be here. And thereafter we will expect the arrival of Dr. Riek Machar, the First Vice President Designate of the Republic of South Sudan. We expect him to be arriving by next week so that we thereafter establish the Transitional Government of National Unity,” he further explained.
Speaking at the same occasion, the opposition’s chief negotiator, Taban Deng Gai, said the people of South Sudan should be happy after the arrival of the soldiers.
The soldiers only brought with them AK47s while their other light weapons including PKMs and RPGs 7 will be airlifted to Juba by a separate flight.
The troops which arrived on Monday were boarded on a military truck and driven to their camp behind Jebel Kujur (Kerek), 2kms south of Juba, where they will be stationed.
Opposition fighters will deploy a total number of 2,910 soldiers in Juba as part of the security arrangements. The government will also deploy over 5,000 police and military personnel in the capital.
While the rest of 1,330 will be airlifted to Juba, the remaining over 1,500 are expected to move to Juba on foot or by river with their heavy weapons.
A total of 8,000 police and military personnel of different categories will take charge of the capital’s security and protection.
AFRICAN UNION WELCOMES
In a statement issued on Monday evening, the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union (AU), Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has welcomed the arrival, in Juba, on Thursday of the 22 SPLM/A-IO senior officials to take part in the joint security arrangements for the capital of South Sudan.
Zuma said this move is a step towards facilitating Machar return and the formation of the of the Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) .
“The Chairperson notes, with great appreciation, the cordial manner in which the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) received the SPLM/A-IO officials upon their arrival in Juba,” she further said.
(ST)