The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition (SPLA-IO) soldiers have vacated two public institutions in Central Equatoria State, said Ceasefire Monitors.
Speaking during a monthly meeting in Juba on Thursday, the Chairperson of the Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), Maj Gen Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, confirmed that the hospital and school had been vacated by the armed forces who moved to their designated areas.
“Under the arrangements of Article 2.2.3.1 of the R-ARCSS, two civilian areas, Kirwa Health Facility and Bori Primary School, located in Central Equatoria State, have been confirmed as vacated,” Bitew said.
He said the move would enable the civilians to return to their homes and rebuild lives.
“Vacation of these buildings is a positive step toward compliance with the implementation process and the provisions of the R-ARCSS,” he said.
The occupation of civilian buildings, as provided for in Chapter II of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), is considered a violation of the agreement.
CTSAMVM said both government and opposition forces had been occupying civilian buildings.
The buildings these forces were illegally occupying include schools, hospitals and homes, mostly in Upper Nile and Equatoria region.
Bitew expressed concern about the deteriorating security situation in Tambura County.
He said the violence left a man killed in an attempt on the life of the Tambura County Commissioner.