SPLA army says ‘ready’ for disarmament in Lakes region

SPLA troops are ready to start the disarmament exercise in the three states of Gok, Western and Eastern Lakes states, a top military official said.

On Monday, President Salva Kiir declared a three-month state of emergency in the three states, where inter-communal clashes intensified. Kiir ordered the army chief to disarm all armed youth involved in clashes between communities in the states under lock down.

General Marial Chanuong, commander of the ground forces, told the press in Juba on Tuesday that they had received President Kiir’s orders and that the army is ready to carry out the disarmament exercise.

“As directed to the chief of defence forces to prepare forces to be send to Lake States for disarmament and now it is out of the presidency, and now it has been left to us in the army,” he said.

The army commander said the disbarment exercise will be very simple when the SPLA army arrives in the area. General Marial expressed optimism that the army will restore peace among different communities in Western Lakes state where over 170 people were killed in inter-communal clashes last week.

Marial did not mention a specific date for the army to go Lakes region