South Sudan’s warring SPLA-IO and SPLA-Juba factions have reportedly decided on a phased withdrawal of Ugandan troops from South Sudanese territory. The agreement came during a workshop on implementation of the ceasefire agreement and security matrix currently ongoing in Addis Ababa.

Starting on Saturday, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) held a workshop with the participation of six military officers of each side. The event concluded yesterday evening.

Col. Kong Thong, a member of SPLA-IO, told Radio Tamazuj that they set dates 15, 25, and 30 November to start the implementation of the security matrix by pulling out the Ugandan People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

He stressed that they gave a 72-hour deadline to the Juba government to allow foreign troops quit South Sudan territory, a deadline which is expected to elapse by Wednesday.‫       

But he pointed out that they failed during the workshop to identify buffer zones in Bentiu and Nasser areas as well as Ayod, due to deployment of SPLA-Juba forces in those areas.

The rebel commander pointed out that the local residents also could not return back homes due to extensive deployment of the government forces in those places.

Kong added that they also agreed to form a joint monitoring and verification mechanism comprised of the regional bloc IGAD and representatives of the two warring factions in all areas except the capital Juba.