Maj-Gen. James Koang, a member of the armed opposition on the CTSAMM ceasefire mechanism, says that there is a meeting of the joint security committee scheduled today in Juba to set a date for the arrival of forces from the opposition and bodyguards of Riek Machar and for demilitarization of Juba.
SPLA and SPLA-IO agreed last year to partially demilitarize Juba, limiting the number of government troops allowed in the city and permitting the newly appointed vice president Riek Machar to bring a limited number of bodyguards to the city when he takes office.
Machar told the BBC last week he will not return to Juba until security arrangements for Juba are completed.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, James Koang also revealed that CTSAMM members inspected with the Minister of Defence and Chief of General Staff of the SPLA sites for cantonment of Riek Machar’s bodyguards in Juba beside another site for the joint forces during the transitional period.
Meanwhile, CTSAMM announced in a press release yesterday that last Friday it ran a workshop for liaison officers from the SPLA and the SPLA-IO, in coordination with the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission (JMCC).
“These newly inducted officers will join the CTSAMM Monitoring and Verification Teams (MVTs) on the ground to assist with their activities and enhance the credibility of CTSAMM investigations,” reads the press statement.
The workshop focused on CTSAMM methods and Standard Operating Procedures. The press statement says that the deployment of liaison officers demonstrates “a positive commitment by the Parties and a major move forward for the CTSAMM.”
File photo: General James Koang