S. Sudan army says SPLA-IO soldiers disarmed because they are not allowed to enter Wau

JUBA – South Sudan army has said that soldiers of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) were disarmed in Western Bahr el Ghazal state’s capital Wau because they are not allowed by the agreement to enter into territories under the control of the SSPDF before the reunification of the army.

Yesterday, a section of the media reported that SSPDF in Wau disarmed members of the SPLA-IO soldiers who were going to Wau to welcome the newly appointed governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal state, Sarah Cleto Rial.

In an exclusive interview with Sudans Post this morning, the SSPDF spokesman Major General Lul Ruai Koang said the SPLA-IO soldiers were disarmed because they are not allowed by the agreement to enter territories which are under the control of the army.

“The SPLA-IO does not have the right to enter areas under our control. They only have the right to go to the cantonment and assembly areas,” Lul said.

“There is nothing as such that they can be allowed to go to Wau with their guns to receive an SPLM-IO nominated governor,” he added.