The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the armed opposition Sudan People’s
Liberation Army-in opposition (SPLA-IO) on Tuesday agreed to end hostilities in the aftermath
recent clashes in Unity state.
Maj.Gen William Manyang Mayak , the commander of the SSPDF fourth infantry division in
Unity state said he met his counterpart Maj.Gen John Turuk Khor the commander of the SPLA-
IO where they agreed to diffuse tension between their two forces.
This comes after fighting was reported between the two forces on November 28 th near a base
operated by SPLM-IO in Leer County. The fighting displaced thousands of civilians who are
currently seeking refuge in Leer town.
“The solution to this unnecessary tensions is to order forces to training centers, and if all of
them join training centers, who is going to defect again?” said Mayak in an interview with Juba
Echo in Rubkona division four headquarter.
“The second phase will go to training centers and this will end fighting and defections, there will
be no more defections after the second phase because there will be no soldiers left behind,
may be only politicians will defect but not soldiers,” he added.
Tensions started building up between the two forces in early October following the defection of
Maj.Gen Simon Maguek, a senior SPLA-IO commander in charge of SPLA-IO sector two in Unity
state to the SSPDF.
Another senior SPLA-IO officer Maj.Gen Michael Wal Nyak followed Maguek by defecting to the
SSPDF with some soldiers.
Mayak promised to work with his SPLA-IO counterpart Turuk to cease hostilities in a bid to
ensure lasting peace in the state.
For his part, SPLA-IO commander John Turuk Khor said he will work with Mayak to ensure the
displacement of civilians due to clashes comes to an end.
“We have no problem with SSPDF division four commander,
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