Second batch of SPLA-IO forces arrived in Juba
March 29, 2016 (JUBA) – Another force of the second batch of the soldiers of the armed opposition faction of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Army (SPLA-IO) has arrived in Juba on Tuesday, 29 March 2016, a day after the first batch landed in the national capital on Monday.
Dak also told Sudan Tribune that the rest of the over 1,250 forces are expected to arrive in Juba over the weekend.
Currently, the total number of SPLA-IO forces on the ground in the capital is 79 in addition to 22 police generals who arrived in Juba a week earlier.
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 have been driven to their camp behind Jebel Kujur (Kerek), 2km south of Juba, where they will be stationed.
Opposition fighters will deploy a total number of 2,910 soldiers and police force in Juba as part of the security arrangements. The government will also deploy over 5,000 police and military personnel in the capital.
While a total of 1,370 number of opposition forces will be airlifted to Juba from different locations, the remaining over 1,500 forces 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 from the two parties, government and SPLM-IO, will take charge of the capital’s security and protection.
(ST)