SPLA-IO wants new cantonment area after water submerged site in Bentiu

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) is calling on the international community and peace guarantors to find higher ground for cantonment of their forces after a site designated for them in Unity State was taken over by water.

Heavy rains and devastating flooding this week submerged many areas in Unity State displacing thousands of people across the state, according to several state and local government officials who spoke to Sudans Post on Monday afternoon.

In a statement, SPLA-IO Sector 2 Commander Lt. Gen. Peter Ruot Chuol declared to the public that the opposition troops have deserted the Dingding cantonment site in Rubkona and that there is need for the peace guarantors and the partners to find higher ground for their forces to stay to avoid illegal actions.

“The sector two commander Lt.-Gen. Peter Ruot Chuol take this declaration that our cantonment site in Dingding has been submerged by water during heavy rains that has destroyed dykes from the east of the area,” General Duol said in the statement a copy of which was extended to Sudans Post.

“Therefore, I am appealing to the peace grantors to take immediate intervention to find necessary place, to the forces of SPLA-IO, who have lived horrible situation for the last two years since beginning of natural disasters, in fact Dingding cantonment site in Rubkona county is now desert after 24 hours, to the nearest location call Tong 10 Kilometers away from Dingding,” he added.