South Sudan’s opposition movement (SPLM-IO) troops in Kapoeta State have declined to move to a proposed cantonment site, citing lack of facilities in the area.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Thursday, the rebel-appointed governor of Kapoeta State, Marko Lokidor said their forces camped in Looryo have rejected relocation to the proposed Lowareng cantonment site.
“Lowareng was proposed to be a cantonment site, but we rejected it. Some government officials and the JMCC [Joint Military Ceasefire Committee] proposed it to be a cantonment site on our behalf,” Lokidor said.
According to Lokidor, SPLA-IO field commanders were not involved in decision making processes when the cantonment site was chosen.
“Now, the government is asking our forces to move from Looryo to Lowareng site, but we have rejected it because we stayed in Looryo for almost two years now and we are confortable here,” he said.
Lokidor pointed out that the SPLA-IO forces have developed good relations with residents of Looryo area. “Our forces do not have any problem with the locals here. We want our forces to remain here until the screening is completed,” he said.
The forces at Looryo can easily access water and shelter, he stressed. “When the assessment was done, we found that there was no water at Lowareng site. Also, the area cannot accommodate our forces because it is too small,” Lokidor said.
On his part, the governor of Kapoeta State, Louis Lobong Lojore said JMCC’s position is to have SPLA-IO forces relocated to Lowareng site.
“We have recently provided tools and tents to the SPLA-IO forces so that they move to the proposed site because the current location is very close to civilians,” Lobong said.
He pointed out that the cantonment site was proposed by the JMCC in Juba. “I am not involved in the issue. I just helped them so that they move to the proposed cantonment site,” Lobong explained.
“There is water there in the area of Lowareng,” he added.
JMCC officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
In July, the Joint Defence Board (JDB) ordered the immediate assembly of government, opposition and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) forces into established cantonment sites, a key step towards the unification of forces as envisioned in the peace deal.