South Sudan army surveys eight withdrawal points outside Juba

September 26, 2015 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese army (SPLA) is conducting a survey to assess areas outside the national capital, Juba where it would relocate its troops in compliance with provisions of the security arrangement in the just-inalised peace accord.

The agreement, which both president Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar signed, demands demilitarisation and relocation of the forces from Juba as well as some other towns inhabited by the civilian population in the world’s youngest nation.

The army chief of staff, Paul Malong Awan told the state-owned SSTV Thursday that
the military was ready to implement the agreement and move out of the town once the eight identified areas, 25 kilometers away from the town centre, have been marked.

Commander of the presidential forces, Marial Chanuong Yol, commander of presidential guards disclosed on Friday that they had completed conducting a survey in at least six points and the remaining two points would be completed by end of the week.

Yol is one of the few government officials facing United Nations imposed sanctions for his alleged role on the conflict that killed thousands and displaced millions of people.

The survey team, Yol said, visited and conducted surveys identifying 25 kilometers away from the town centre on Juba-Nimule road, Juba-Torit road and Juba-Kajo-kejo road.

The team also visited and conducted a similar exercise on the Juba-Yei road and would assess final areas yet to be identified along the Juba-Mundri and Juba-Terekeka roads

Relocation of the army from Juba town to these areas will reportedly be done when the camps for the troops have been established in other parts of the country with water facilities and camping areas for living.

“We are going to make a report to the SPLA general headquarter to direct our engineering team to start digging water and putting in place some of infrastructure such that people will live in,” the commander of the presidential guards further told SSTV.

(ST)