A delegation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) faction led by Taban Deng Gai Taban dispatched to Wau claimed that over 6,000 rebels loyal to Riek Machar have denounced rebellion and joined the national dialogue process.

 Abdu Musa Jibril, head of the government-allied opposition delegation, Radio Tamauj yesterday that their mission to Wau was to identify cantonment sites and convince forces loyal to Machar to join the peace initiative.

Jibril further said they received positive responses from some of the rebel leaders and troops, claiming that more than 6,000 rebels accepted to assemble in the cantonment sites.

For his part, SPLA-IO military spokesman in Western Bahr el Ghazal Nichola Gabriel Adam denied having any communication with Taban Deng’s faction and said the report is not true.