By Staff Writer
President Salva Kiir Mayardit chaired an extended Presidency meeting on Monday, to address rising tensions in Nasir County of Upper Nile and Western Equatoria State.
The meeting, attended by First Vice President Riek Machar, other Vice Presidents, and other key party leaders agreed on the peaceful deployment of South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) soldiers to Nasir.
The deployment is to replace long-serving forces currently stationed in Nasir, a move the white army opposed.
According to a statement from Office of President, Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth the leaders agreed to cooperate for the sake of the nation.
He pointed out that there is a need for cooperation from the communities along the route from Malakal to Nasir.
Meanwhile, Minister of Petroleum and senior SPLM-IO member Puot Kang urged local populations to guarantee the safe transit of the forces to their designated barracks in Nasir.
Civil society representative Edmond Yakani described the meeting as “positive and cordial.” He noted the importance of the leaders’ unified stance in ensuring a stable environment.
The Presidency further issued a strong appeal to citizens to abstain from disseminating inflammatory content on social media, which could exacerbate existing tensions.
They encouraged responsible communication that contributes to a peaceful atmosphere.
The meeting comes after FVP Dr. Riek Machar requested a meeting with the President to de-escalate tensions and ensure the security of citizens in the affected regions through a coordinated and peaceful deployment of forces.
The security situation in Western Equatoria and Upper Nile States worsened over the past weeks.
Clashes in Upper Nile State between government soldiers and opposition forces, intensified after the army announced the rotation of forces in Nasir, Upper Nile State.
Several people have reportedly been killed and others injured in these conflicts.
In Western Equatoria, it deteriorated further when President Salva Kiir dismissed officials from the SPLM-IO, allegedly without consulting the party as stipulated in the Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan.
In Western Bahr el Ghazal, confrontations have been reported between the SSPDF (Sudan People’s Defense Forces) and SPLA-IO (Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition) as the army implemented a resolution from the 8th Governor’s Forum, which demanded removal of all illegal checkpoints.
Over the weekend Dr. Machar also engaged Upper Nile authorities, local leaders, and armed youth to de-escalate the tension arising from army rotation.
Machar met with county commissioners from Ulang and Nasir, along with leaders of armed groups, to discuss the conflict that arose from the unilateral replacement of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Wech-Yar Adiu of Nasir County.