39 SPLA/SPLM-IO Troops Airlifted to Juba, More To Follow

March 28, 2016(Nyamilepedia) —- Thirty nine (39) troops of the SPLM/SPLA in Opposition have arrived Juba from Pagak GHQs today, this marks the beginning of transporting about 3000 troops of the armed opposition forces as per security arrangement, these forces will be stationed in Juba to pave the way for the return of the Fist Vice President and SPLM/SPLA [IO] leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon.

“Thirty nine (39) of the SPLM/A (In Opposition) troops have arrived in Juba today in the afternoon. The 39 officers arrived in Juba this evening aboard a UN Flight from Malakal,” Machar states.

On arrival to Juba airport, the soldiers were received by SPLM/SPLA in Opposition chief negotiator, who is also SPLM/SPLA-IO advance team leader in Juba, Gen Taban Deng Gai, South Sudan Minister of Information Micheal Makuei Lueth and Deputy Chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation commission Francoise Lounceny, among other several representatives from UNMISS.

Michael Makuei, on behalf of the government, says he welcomes the arrival of the SPLM/SPLA [IO] first batch to Juba and not to South Sudan because the South Sudan armed opposition forces have been in South Sudan since the war broke out in 2013. He urges the peace partners to expedite transporting the remaining SPLA-IO forces to Juba and expects the arrival of Machar to Juba next week in order to form the Transitional Government of National Unity. Very jubilant Gen Taban Deng Gai on his part compliments the arrival of the forces and says his team and the GRSS are working on a committee that will receive the country’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.