The Northern Bahr el Ghazal state government in South Sudan intends to disarm SPLA soldiers who deserted the Upper Nile state front lines.

The soldiers, who come from Northern Bahr el Ghazal and Warrap states, left their positions after not receiving their salaries.

Northern Bahr el Ghazal Deputy Governor Gen. Salva Chol Ayat told Radio Tamazuj that he visited Aweil North County to collect the guns of the SPLA soldiers and ordered them to report back to barracks.

Aweil North County is the birthplace of defected general Dau Aturjung who joined the rebellion led by the former vice president Dr. Riek Machar in December last year.

Ayat denied any link between the deserting soldiers and Aturjung and said the government does not hold grudges against soldiers who defied the orders. He urged the escapees to return back to SPLA headquarters.

Earlier this month, over a thousand SPLA soldiers deserted from the Jonglei front over unpaid salaries.