A statement from the SPLA-IO spokesperson, Col. Lam Paul Gabriel noted that its Acting Chief of General Staffs, Lt. Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam began his peace dissemination missions in Upper Nile State by first visiting Mandeng, Lankien and then Fangak on the 11 February 2024 and 12 February 2024 respectively.
Gen. Duop was reportedly accompanied by Lt. Gen. Koang Gatkuoth, Lt. Gen. Wesley Welebe Samson, Lt. Gen. Ashab Khamis, Maj. Gen. Dhelling Keah, Maj. Gen. Ayuen Dot representing Joint Military Ceasefire Commission (JMCC) and other SPLA-IO officers.
“This mission is meant to prepare the SPLA-IO forces to be moved to cantonment for the commencement of Phase II of the Security Arrangements. However, while the delegates were on ground, clashes erupted between the SSPDF and Civilians in Nasir which then extended to the SPLA-IO base in the area on 11/02/2024,” partly reads the statement from the SPLA-IO spokesperson.
Lam said an attack occurred on the SPLA-IO post near Wunaliet, in Central Equatoria on 12 February 2024.
“These violations greatly overshadowed the peace mission,” he noted.
Lam, however, said the SPLA-IO High Command continued with its mission to call upon its forces to get ready for phase II. despite the intentional violation played.
“This shows commitment to the implementation of the Transitional Security Arrangements,” he stressed.
The SPLA-IO thanked the Presidential Security Affairs advisor, Tut Gatluak Manime and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) for providing facilitation and flights to enable its delegates achieve the mission’s objectives.
“The Acting Chief of General Staff will continue with this mission to cantonment sites in Greater Equatoria and also Greater Bahr el Ghazal regions within the coming days so that phase II commence uninterrupted,” concluded the release.
Last year, the JMCC said it had set up 17 cantonment sites to accommodate the second batch of unified forces from the ranks of the armed opposition forces.
