The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the East African regional bloc tasked with monitoring South Sudan's ceasefire, has denied that the SPLA invited its monitors to investigate fighting in Guit county of Unity state.

In recent days, SPLA spokesperson Col Philip Aguer has alleged that the IGAD ceasefire monitoring team in Bentiu, Unity state declined an invitation to accompany government troops to Guit to verify reports of fighting with rebels.

In a statement to Radio Miraya this morning, IGAD said it is "disappointed" in Aguer's statements, adding that the SPLA never invited its teams in Bentiu to visit Guit with them.

"There have been misleading allegations made suggesting that the [IGAD monitoring team] is failing to monitor the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, making specific reference to an incident in Unity State," the IGAD statement said. "These allegations, quoting the SPLA Spokesman Colonel Philip Aguer, appeared in the media on 14th and 15th September. Contrary to the allegations, the [IGAD monitoring team] in Bentiu was not invited to accompany officers from 4th Division SPLA to Guit, where there was an armed clash reported on 13th September."

IGAD said it has received complaints from both sides about the clashes in Guit, so it would be "inappropriate" to carry out an investigation accompanied by one of the two parties. The monitoring group said it is undertaking its own investigation of the Guit incident and that it is impartial.

IGAD has yet to report on any violations of the ceasefire which went into effect more than two weeks ago on 30 August, despite both sides accusing the other of breaking the truce.

Government accuses IGAD of delaying security meeting

Meanwhile, South Sudan government spokesperson Michael Makuei Lueth further accused IGAD of delaying a scheduled workshop in Addis Ababa on ceasefire and transitional security arrangements between the government and armed opposition.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Makuei said the workshop was already supposed to be concluded under which a joint military command and ceasefire committee would have been set up on the ground, "but IGAD decided to postpone the workship during that period of time."

Makuei, who is also spokesperson for the government delegation at the recently concluded peace talks, said that discussions were still ongoing regarding the composition of the joint monitoring and ceasefire committee, which is expected to arrive in Juba on Thursday.

He noted there is a joint committee that would also be formed by the chiefs of staff of the Kiir's government SPLA and Machar's SPLA-In Opposition.

IGAD spokesperson Hailemichael Gebreselasie confirmed yesterday the ceasefire workshop had begun with commanders from both sides in Addis Ababa discussing transitional security arrangements and the demilitarization of Juba.

File photo: SPLA spokesperson Col Philip Aguer