The southern army says that most of the militia forces operating in South Sudan were either captured or pushed out of the area days after rebel leaders united in a new armed movement against the government.
Renegade commander George Athor, who heads the new rebel movement, told McClatchy news that the new group called South Sudan Democratic Movement will have a joint army called South Sudan Army.However, SPLA spokesperson Phillip Aguer Panyang dismissed the existence of such an army saying the militia leaders were all in hiding.
He told SCR News over the phone that SPLA forces were deployed in all the affected areas and they were ready to face the militias.
The new coalition that brings together five different armed militias across four of South Sudan’s ten states has raised concerns.
Anyanya One leader Joseph Lagu appealed to the militia leaders to re-think their positions of fighting the government.
Her added that in democracy political positions are contested at the ballot box and not through bullets.
Mr. Aguer described the security situation in South Sudan as stable and under control, saying the SPLA quelled rebellions in Upper Nile, Unity and Jonglei state.
Sudan Tribune reported that SPLA Major General Peter Gadet Yak is the latest high rank military to defect the South army.
Some commanders aligned with northern forces are resisting having their militias incorporated into the southern army while others take arms due to local grievances like land disputes between neighbouring tribes.