SPLA-IO commander calls on JDB chiefs to order SSPDF forces to vacate occupied civilian buildings in Pageri

December 27, 2019 Newsbeat

Heads of the Joint Defense Board (JDB), Lt Gen. Gabriel Jock Riak, Lt Gen James Koang Chuol and other high-ranking officers pose for a group picture (Photo: Supplied)

December 27th, 2019 (SSNN)-A high-ranking commander of the SPLA-IO has called on heads of the Joint Defense Board (JDB), Lt Gen. Gabriel Jock Riak, Lt Gen James Koang Chuol and the Chairman of the CTSAMVM, Maj Gen Desta Abiche Ageno to order the SSPDF forces to urgently vacate occupied civilian buildings in Pageri County, Eastern Equatoria.

Urgent call for immediate withdrawal of SSPDF from all civilian areas in Pageri County

“I am hereby calling for your office to withdraw all SSPDF from all civilian areas they are occupying in Pageri County after 10 months of none compliance of SSPDF in Pageri county to an order that came from Joint Defense Board in February 2019 for both SSPDF and Opposition forces to vacate all civilian areas and report to cantonment sites and selected barracks: The unification process of both SSPDF and Opposition forces require that all forces should assemble at designated barracks and cantonment sites for purposes of registration and screening of forces for eventual joint training in an effort to create unified forces for South Sudan Security Sector as stipulated in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS, 2018),” said the SPLA-IO area commanding officer, Brig. Gen. Kocu David Silvestro.

The officer decried their living conditions in the cantonment areas, however, asserted that their main objective is to achieve peace and stability in the country.

“Following the order issued by the Joint Defense Board for all forces to assemble at cantonment sites and barracks, the SPLM/A (10) forces of Pageri Brigade reported to Ashwa Cantonment site on 23 February. The SPLM/A (I0) forces of Magwi, Torit West and Special Brigades moved to Ashwa 2019 Cantonment Site in August 2019, We have endured all sorts of intentionally imposed inhuman hardships such as inadequate food and medical supplies to our forces at the cantonment site. We continue to endure these hardships only in the interest of peace for the citizens of our great nation South Sudan,” he said.

He said despite numerous warnings from the authorities and peace monitors, urging the SSPDF forces to safely vacate the occupied civilian buildings in the area, the SSPDF troops have remained obstinate, and refused to heed the orders.

“Today marks 10 months of our constant presence at Ashwa Cantonment Site, but the forces of SSPDF that have settled after the 2013 Crisis in civilian areas in Kit 1, Ame Junction, Moli Tokuro, Aucfuni, Kerepi Mutula, Kerepi Centre, Nyongwa, Pageri center, Loa Catholic Church, Loa center, Aswa bridge, Jeleyi, and Rei-Check point have remained in those locations and are adamant to implement joint orders.”

“Several stakeholders including Pageri brigade and Anyanya Division have on several očcasions raised the issue of the non-compliance of SSPDF to assemble in Nimule barrack which is officially allocated for them just as Ashwa was allocated for SPLAIO and other opposition forces who signed the R-ARCSS.”