A senior official from the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has said trainers assigned to instruct forces in preparation for unification in Moroto have fled the scene and are yet to return as clashes intensify between government and armed opposition battalions.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel told The City Review that the continuous clashes have compelled trainers not return at the centre since December last year, throwing the training process in jeopardy.
“As we all know due to the recent clashes especially the one of December around Moroto and Keriwai, trainers have moved out and they are not yet back because the situation is still hostile there since the forces of the government and SPLM-IO are not yet disengaged,” Col. Lam said.
In its 21st board meeting, the Ceasefire Transitional Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) reported that areas around Moroto had remained volatile since the defection of General Moses Lokojo to SSPDF in September last year.
The peace monitoring body said in the report that thousands of civil population have been displaced with women and girls subjected to human rights violation such as rape and sexual assaults.
However, the Deputy SSPDF Spokesperson Brigadier Santo Domic said they have not received any report of confrontation between government’s forces and forces loyal to armed opposition groups as of recent.
“That used to be the situation but of the recent the situation seems to be relatively calm and if there is anything else I don’t know,” Domic said.
Earlier CTSAMVM warned sifting of allegiance among armed forces at the time efforts were being made to bring lasting peace in the country could have devastating impact on the ongoing peace implementation process, calling on parties to desist.
The body also reported many of the forces had deserted the training centres due to lack of clean drinking water, medicines, shelters and food, forcing them to resort for help from members of the nearby communities.
Parties are yet to graduate thousands of first batch of unified forces who have already completed the trainings at various training centers across the country, including Motoro training facility in Central Equatoria State.
According to Col. Lam, though absent at the training in Moroto training center, the forces will be part of the forthcoming graduation expected to take place anytime this year.
On the New Year ’s Eve, the government Advisor on National SecurityTut Gatluak said the trained forces were to be unified in the early week of January. It remains unclear why until now, the unification has not happened.