Over 149 members of South Sudan’s SPLA-IO rebel movement have surrendered on Monday at Ghabat area in Upper Nile State, accepting a presidential offer of amnesty, an SPLA source said.

Vincent Juma, an SPLA officer in northern Upper Nile told Radio Tamazuj that over 270 SPLA-IO elements have responded to the amnesty so far with the latest group of 149 surrendering on Monday.

He added some of them were captured, while others surrendered in late March in the presence of the Manyo County Commissioner and SPLA commander of Division 7 Gen. Zachariah Akuei. Juma further said the last group of 149 surrendered to the SPLA leadership on Monday.

“I personally witnessed their surrender to the government in the presence of local authorities and SPLA officers,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Manyo County Commissioner Rajab Deng said about 230 rebel forces are negotiating with the army leadership at Kuek area. “I think after the negotiation, the final report will be referred to the ministry of defense because the rebels have senior officers,” he said.

“The negotiation is underway and it going on well. We want those people to come back and join in agriculture.” he added. However, the commissioner denied knowledge about 149 rebels troops defected to the government forces on Monday. 

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