The Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) soldiers in cantonment in Western Equatoria State lack food, water, and health services, their spokesman said. 

The SPLA-IO spokesperson in Western Equatoria, Costa Joseph Kumaki, told Radio Tamazuj Wednesday that most of their soldiers in the cantonment area have children who have no access to education because they are far away from towns.  

He added that they also lack food, water, and health services for the soldiers. 

“We have soldiers in Namatina, Zomoi, Rangu, and Mundri in cantonment for the last three years. The soldiers have families and children with them but there are no schools for our children,” Joseph lamented. “Since the soldiers were taken for training, we are still waiting for them to graduate so that the second group can go for training. Now we have no food, no health services. How long will we keep living like this?” 

He called upon the government to speed up the implementation of security arrangements and said the graduation of forces in the training sites is vital for the security of the country.

“My message to President Salva Kiir and Dr. Riek Machar is that all soldiers belong to the nation, they should not be forgotten. They should not forget the soldiers. If the soldiers are forgotten, this will lead to more problems soon. The soldiers who have finished training should be graduated so that the second phase can go for training. Also, they should supply food to the soldiers in cantonment areas,” Joseph said.

He said some soldiers have deserted the cantonment sites and training centers and may cause insecurity.