Machar’s group calls for immediate deployment of peace forces to ‘control’ Olony

JUBA – A senior member of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has called for deployment of the unified forces to Upper Nile region to bring to an end the ongoing stability which he blames on the Agwelek forces led by Gen. Johnson Olony.

Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the spokesman of the SPLA-IO, said there is need for immediate deployment of the unified forces to the Upper Nile region to bring to an end the instability in which ten of thousands of civilians are still seeking protection in IDP camps despite the signing of the revitalized peace agreement by the warring parties.

“I believe this is the only way peace can be restored in the Upper Nile region. But without the deployment of the necessary unified forces that have just been graduated, I believe this insecurity will continue. But also, we need to have control of the Agwelek forces,” Lam said during an interview with Radio Miraya this morning.

The call by the senior main armed opposition officer comes days after the governor of Upper Nile State, Gen. Abudhok Anyang, said the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has refused to intervene to protect civilians in the Shilluk Kingdom following deadly attacks by armed youth from neighboring Jonglei State.

General Abudhok who is also a member of the main armed opposition group said thousands of people have fled several villages in Upper Nile State into the capital Malakal and most of them, he said, are being hosted at campus of the Upper Nile University after the government was told that the UN IDP camp in Malakal was full.

YAKANI CALLS FOR ‘HOLISTIC’ APPROACH TO END VIOLENCE

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) Edmund Yakani called on the transitional government in Juba to intervene and employ a holistic approach to end the violence so that the citizens of Upper Nile region can also enjoy peace.

“CEPO urges the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity to handle Upper Nile state violence going on between Simon Gatwech and Johnson Olony in holistic manner thank using selective approach,” Yakani said.

The prominent activist further warned that “Any attempt to handle the violented situation that created the clashes of Simon Gatwech and Johnson Olony forces should not undermine the spirit of the implementing the R-ARCSS.”

“The government in juba should use dialogue as better approach and the Simon Gatwech and Johnson Olony should embrace dialogue is the only option of resolving their political differences,” Yakani concluded.