Military commanders from both government and opposition in Juba on Wednesday summoned two army generals over clashes in Maiwut area in eastern Upper Nile.
“The leader of the government-allied military group, General James Ochan Puot, and the SPLA-IO commander in Maiwut, General Khor Chuol Giet, have been asked to report to Juba over fighting in Maiwut,” said Paul Lam Gabriel, a deputy spokesman for the opposition SPLA-IO.
Earlier this week, troops from the South Sudanese government and the SPLM-IO started trading accusations over fresh attacks in Maiwut.
Government-allied troops under Major General James Ochan Puot who last year defected from the SPLA-IO were accused of violating the ceasefire deal in the area.
The SPLA-IO deputy military spokesman told Radio Tamazuj that the decision to summon the two army generals was taken during a meeting between top military leaders from both government and opposition in the capital Juba.
“The meeting was between the chair of the NPTC [National Pre-Transitional Committee], the head of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), Gen. Gabriel Jok, and the SPLA-IO’s deputy chief of staff for administration, Gen. James Koang Chuol,” he said.
“The two army generals will come to Juba so that we stop the ongoing fighting there. The parties have to embark on the implementation of the peace agreement,” he added.
Lul Ruai Koang, South Sudan’s military spokesman, confirmed that Major General James Ochan Puot and General Khor Chuol Giet have been asked to report to Juba immediately.
“The two generals have been asked today to come to Juba immediately to explain the reason for fighting in Maiwut,” he said.
The rival parties have twice failed to form the unity government, first in May 2019 and then in November the same year, when they agreed to give themselves100 days to resolve disputed issues and form a transitional government by 22 February 2020.
Under the terms of the 2018 peace deal, the parties are to create a unified army and agree on the number and boundaries of states.