South Sudan army says arrival of more troops to Juba is “normal routine”
April 12, 2016 (JUBA) – South Sudanese army, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), on Tuesday admitted that it has deployed more troops to the national capital, Juba, but argued it had nothing to do with “militarization or demilitarization” of the capital.
“The troops are part and parcel of the national army – SPLA and their movement was a routine administrative matter that had nothing to do with either militarization or demilitarization of Juba,” said Koang, referring to provision in the peace agreement that apportion specific number of soldiers to remain in Juba.
Koang could not however clarify the purposes for the deployment of the troops, and whether or not they are part of the joint integrated forces.
The SPLM in opposition led by First Vice President designate, Riek Machar, which form joint integrated police and army to take care of Juba security during the interim period, raised concern on Sunday when more troops allegedly from President Salva Kiir Dinka ethnic group entered Juba.
The forces were allegedly brought in several lorries by the army’s Chief of General Staff, Paul Malong Awan, without the knowledge of the opposition party or the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC).
Koang however added that Juba is a transit for roads leading to several towns and troops could move through the city before heading to their final destination. He did not specify where the soldiers were heading despite questions from journalists.
On the other hand, the army’s spokesperson denied that the SPLA Chief, Awan, made a statement threatening blocking Riek Machar from becoming president in his presence. He said Gen. Malong was on a personal visit to Awiel, his home town, and never held public meeting.
FIGHTING CRIMINALS
Speaking specifically to dismiss what he calls “bad blood” statements from the armed SPLM-IO, Koang, a former spokesman for the SPLM-IO before changing sides, said the army is fighting “criminals” in former Western Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal states.
“It is unrealistic for [SPLM] IO to accuse us of violations and attacks on none-existing sites unless they are implying that they are in secret alliance with those criminals. If there were any military operations conducted, then they must have been directed against those groups; bandits and highway robbers,” he said.
“The [SPLA] would like to reiterate its commitment and full support towards implementation of the peace agreement under command of Commander in Command H.E President Salva Kiir Mayardit and we appeal to the [SPLM] IO’s propaganda machinery to adopt the language of peace and cease making alarming statements,” he added.
He further argued that there are no SPLM-IO forces in both Equatoria and Bahr el Ghazal regions, but “criminals” that appeared after the peace agreement was signed in August 2015.
“To support our argument that we have been fighting against mere criminals in these two regions, on Thursday night that was on (07/04-2016) last week, unidentified gunmen believed to be relatives and friends for some hardcore convicts attacked the main Prison in Kajokeji town, Yei River State, setting free 38 prisoners, took hostage unknown number of prison warders and stole about 12 AKM-47 assault rifles,” he said.
The prisoners who they set free, he added, included ones convicted for murders among other offenses.
He said based on the nature of crimes and how they are committed compounded by “plain truth” that the armed opposition does not have presence in Equatoria region, “we could comfortably say it’s unrealistic for IO to accuse us of violations and attacks on none-existing sites unless they are implying that they are in secret alliance with those criminals.”
“If there were any military operations conducted, then they must have been directed against those groups (bandits and highway robbers),” Koang said.
SPLM-IO officials earlier said they have forces in the two regions which should be allowed to canton and called on the government to stop attacking their positions in the two regions.
United States government on Tuesday condemned the South Sudanese army for attacking SPLM-IO’s cantonment areas in Western Bahr el Ghazal.
It also accused the opposition forces of carrying out similar attacks on government’s forces in the area.
(ST)