The South Sudan people’s defense forces (SSPDF) has attributed the delayed deployment of the recently graduated forces to the fact that commanding officers of the Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) commanders have not been absorbed in the SSPDF.
Speaking to Radio Tamazuj Friday, SSPDF Spokesperson Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said the deployment is in progress but pending the unification of the commanding officers from SPLA-IO and SSOA within SSPDF ranks.
“The newly graduated forces are in the process of being deployed but there are two things that must be handled. The commanding officers for SPLA-IO and SSOA have not become part and parcel of the national army,” he said. “That one is a work in progress and I was told that their lists were submitted. That is the first step that should be taken before they are deployed.”
According to Gen. Ruai, the President will issue a decree to absorb the opposition commander into the SSPDF.
Increased communal conflicts in the last three months led to calls by the ceasefire monitoring body for the parties to the peace agreement to expedite the deployment of the unified forces to contain runaway violence.
The forces have however not been deployed even after graduating but Gen. Ruai Lul insists that there is progress.
“We have integrated the highest level of command of the army at the level of chief of Defense forces and the second in command,” he explained. “The same procedure is needed at the middle level, those who will be commanding the divisions, those who will be assigned as directors at general headquarters and all levels.”
Regarding the deployment of the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) at the South Sudan-Kenya border earlier in the week, Gen. Rual said the SSPDF is still maintaining their regular forces that were deployed before clashes erupted between the Toposa and Turkan in Nadapal on 6 February. He said the SSPDF has no problem with Kenya deploying forces in its territory.
“We also heard through the media that the KDF have deployed on their side of the border and we have no problem with that,” he said.
The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) on Wednesday started deployment in the North Rift region of Kenya, parts of which border South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria State, to support the Kenya Police Service in addressing rising banditry.
Gen. Ruai however said that even before the clashes, the KDF were on their side of the border and a problem may only occur if they crossed into South Sudan.
“We have no problem with anybody deploying within their border and the problem may rise if they crossed to our side,” he emphasized.
The army spokesperson added that a committee has been sent to Kenya to find a diplomatic solution to the border problem.