The Joint Defence Board (JDB) has ordered the immediate assembly of government, opposition and SSOA forces into the established cantonment sites, a key step towards the unification of forces as envisioned in the peace deal.
According to the deal signed in September last year, the warring parties were supposed to assemble and train their forces together within eight months. However, a six-month extension was reached after the process failed to meet its timeline.
In an order seen by Radio Tamazuj, the JDB directed all heads of government and opposition security institutions to start the assembly of all forces under their command to the nearest cantonment site or barracks within the week.
SSPDF spokesman Lul Ruai Koang told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the JDB, comprising military commanders from the army and rebel forces met last week in a bid to review the implementation of security arrangements, one of the peace deal’s biggest hurdles.
“The agreement says all the forces, including SSPDF, police, national security, fire brigade and leaders of all divisions, the same on the SPLM-IO side they need to report to cantonment sites and barracks by 31 of July,” he added.
Responding to concerns of lack of food and medical supplies in cantonment sites, Ruai said, food and supplies have been secured and will be distributed to all the sites.
"Many areas were not able to receive food by then but with the preparations going on now, especially in the next 7 days, all these areas will receive food and any other needs,” he noted.
Ruai said any forces who will not heed to the call for cantonment will be left out of the organised forces once the cantonment process ends.
For his part, Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA-IO deputy spokesman said the order is important for the implementation of the peace agreement saying, security arrangements were the main stumbling block.
“SSOA and IO will be in the same cantonment sites. There are 20 sites, remaining 5, because phase one has 25 sites. But 5 in the areas of Bieh and Maban is not ready because of local challenges including heavy rains. But there is a team delegated to resolve the issues,” he said.
He said once cantonment is complete, the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission will be able to register, screen and train forces.
Paul also pointed out that most of SPLA-IO forces have reported to cantonment sites, ready for training.