SSPDF to set up committee to negotiate with UPDF over detained soldiers

By Awan Achiek

The top leadership of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) plans to create a committee to   negotiate with Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) over the release of three soldiers who were detained on 26 June in the Owinykibul area along the border.

Maj.Gen Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesman said the committee will negotiate with the leadership of UPDF to release the trio who are currently being held in Lamwo district.

“So while we are waiting for a long-term solution to this, the delegation will be sent to Uganda to meet UPDF so that we continue coexisting peacefully while a long-term political solution is being worked out,” Koang told The Dawn in an interview on Friday.

He disclosed that the Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Santino Deng Wol wrote to his UPDF counterpart, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba requesting for the release of the three soldiers.

Koang said that they have started engagement with a joint high-level committee of representatives from the two sides in Gulu to tackle border related issues which resulted in the arrest of the SSPDF soldiers.

“The other medium-term solution is the committee that will be formed, and the other one short-term measure is that we keep on engaging the command of the UPDF Infantry Division in Gulu so that they in turn instruct their commanding officers along the border points to maintain a friendly behavior towards our soldiers,” he said.

UPDF soldiers encroached into the South Sudanese territory and established a military base.

The Ugandan soldiers have been accused of harassment by locals along the border.

The three SSPDF soldiers were intercepted by UPDF while patrolling along the border.