South Sudan’ army chief Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak said peace partners agreed to visit the pilot troops’ assembly area in Yei River State today.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Joint Defence Board (JDB) in Juba on Tuesday, Gen. Jok said they would visit the assembly area in Panyume area on Wednesday.
“We will give instructions to the forces to report themselves to the assembly area in Panyume. SPLA-IO and SSOA forces will be assembled first,” he said.
Jok further said there has been positive progress by the parties in the implementation of the security arrangements deal.
The military leader pointed out that the Joint Defence Board decided to start the implementation process, despite the lack of international support. “We cannot wait because there is no money,” he said.
Gabriel also disclosed that the JDB agreed to establish pilot troops’ cantonment sites in Upper Nile and Bahr al-Ghazal regions.
Meanwhile the deputy chief of staff of the SPLA-IO group for administration, James Koang Chuol confirmed their visit to the assembly area in Yei River State.