The first group of 213 fighters loyal to opposition leader Riek Machar arrived last Sunday at a cantonment site in Dolu area in South Sudan’s Lol State.

Michael Mathok Waal, Minister of Information in Lol State, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that the area of Dolu was chosen to be a cantonment site for the opposition.

Mathok said the cantonment of SPLA-IO fighters was a part of the implementation of the security arrangements agreement signed between the government and several opposition groups.

“This is the 6th Infantry Division. The group of 213 SPLA-IO fighters was accompanied by their commander Brigadier General Faisal Fadul Marjan, so they came to Raja as a part of the peace agreement,” the minister said.

Mathok reiterated his government’s commitment to implement the peace agreement signed by President Salva Kiir and opposition leaders.

Machar himself had recently directed his forces to assemble in cantonment areas as part of the peace deal.

“I want to tell the people of South Sudan that tremendous strides have already been made in the implementation of the security arrangements agreement in Lol State,” Mathok said. “The SPLA-IO forces are here with us to implement the peace agreement.”

The word 'cantonment' describes a site where military units are usually encamped for a long period of time. South Sudan's peace agreement requires the assembly and cantonment of forces previously in combat during the pre-transitional period.