The Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) Juba faction regrets the inconvenience caused by a blockade that it imposed on relief barges to the Upper Nile region, according to an official letter from the Bilpam general headquarters.

In a letter to the UNOCHA coordinator in South Sudan and UNMISS chief of staff, SPLA Maj-Gen. Majier Deng Kur said that “approvals of barge movements from Bor to Malakal [are] to be suspended till further notice... all barges that have reached Malakal should remain in Malakal...”

Maj-Gen. Majier is senior team leader of the Joint Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JVMM).

His letter further stated that the reason for this was because of “uncertainty of the safety of their passage along the Nile from Bor to Malakal.”

Military sources recently told Radio Tamazuj that the order came from SPLA Chief of Staff Paul Malong. The decision aims at starving the perceived supporters of rebel forces and to prevent food aid from reaching rebel troops.

According to Maj-Gen. Majier, “The SPLA GHQs deeply regret any inconvenience that might have been caused by this safe precautions, this is done for the safety of your personnel and equipments.”

File photo (WFP)

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Rights group calls on President Kiir to end Upper Nile blockade (3 Aug.)