The land and water routes have been opened between Malakal and Tonga areas following a joint meeting between government officials in Central Upper Nile and SPLM-IO commanders last Friday, a local official said.

Central Upper Nile’s Deputy Governor John Odhong Adiang told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that they held a meeting with SPLM-IO officials in Malakal town, where they agreed to open up the land and river routes between Malakal and Tonga.

“We are also planning to open the route between Malakal and Juba. I want to tell our people who are living in the UN PoC that they can go to visit their villages,” he said.

“We agreed to allow free movement of civilians between Malakal and Tonga. We are also planning to go to Tonga soon for another meeting,” he added.

Tonga area in Panyikango County remained isolated due to the conflict in the region.