The deputy head of SPLM-IO Advance Team in Juba Ramadan Hassan Laku has warned over the government's continuing refusal to not recognize their forces in Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal.

South Sudan's government and SPLM-IO rebels have a long-running dispute over whether the rebels turned 'peace partners' of the government may establish cantonment sites in the two mentioned regions.

Laku, who is also in charge of SPLM-IO's Equatoria file, told Radio Tamazuj yesterday that the SPLM-IO and the goverment did not reach any level of understanding over the issue of their forces in Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal until now.

“The government did not recognize our forces in Equatoria and Western Bahr el Ghazal until now and this will lead to the collapse of the peace,” said Laku. “The government rejection to this will mean the continuation of the war.”

He said this represents an obstacle in the completion of the security arrangements. Laku also accused the goverment of not respecting the ceasefire even after the formation of the transitional government.

He pointed that a number of Equatorians were killed in Terekeka recently. Laku added that the government does not want to form a national army but wants an army consisting of Dinka and Nuer only.