South Sudan's Vice President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbagi has directed all armed forces in the Revitalised Government of National Unity to vacate all civilian areas especially schools with as soon as possible.
VP Abdelbagi's press secretary Gabriel Kiir Amoi told Radio Tamazuj that directives were issued after reports that armed forces were still using schools as barracks in parts of the country.
He said if the armed forces including the South Sudan Peoples Defense Forces and opposition forces do not implement the order, the matter will be reviewed and appropriate measures are taken. He did not clarify 'the measures'.
For his part, Major General Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson denied receiving directives from the VP's office but told Radio Tamazuj that, "I have not heard of that. We have orders from the army commander to all units of the armed forces, who live in civilian buildings, to evacuate those buildings before November."
According to the 2018 peace agreement, all armed forces were expected to vacate all civilian spaces and assemble at various cantonment sites for integration ahead of the formation of the transitional government. However, the army unification process is lagging.
The continued occupation is also an impediment to the return of refugees and the internally displaced to their homes.