UN force commander visits South Sudan opposition stronghold

LANKEN – The United Nations Mission in South Sudan’s Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Shailesh Tinaikar, has on Tuesday visited the SPLA-IO stronghold in Lanken of Jonglei state, according to a statement by the main armed opposition group.

The statement signed by the SPLA-IO spokesman General William Gatjiath Deng said the visit was for the UNMISS mission to assess opposition patrolling camps in Lanken and to discuss with opposition commanders issues pertaining to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

“It serves to inform the public that this morning, the Chief of General Staff, of United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Lieutenant General Shailesh Tinaikar, paid a visit to the SPLM/A(IO) HQs, in Lanken, which also is the main base of the 3rd Sector, under command of Lt. General Thomas Mabor Dhol, whose (HQs) of his military garrison is also located to the same area, (Koat-Nyachikni),” the statement extended to Sudans Post reads in part.

“The report has compiled this afternoon and officially released to the office by the SPLA (IO) Military Communication Officer of the 3rd Sector, Lt. Col. Khor Nyang Mabor, that the Chief of General Staff, of the United Nation Mission in South Sudan Gen. Tinaikar, has just arrived from Juba purposely to visit their patrolling camps both in Akobo and Lanken,” it added.

It further said that the top UNMISS military official “was officially received by Hon. Pal Mai, the deputy caretaker of the Bieh area.”

“During the meeting, Chief of General was indeed very bold when he was briefing the local administration in the area and also he explained in length the security situation in the country which even in his speeches, had indicated and seen publicly that, the peace partners are living in the complete mess.

“Moreover, the peace itself in the country has been sabotaging and now is growing older and older, even it would neither bears the good fruit nor would it convince the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan, since words become louder than the action.”