Heated Debate over Security Arrangement in Addis Ababa

1. GRSS: cantonment/assembly should be within the theatre of operations( meaning cantonment shall be limited to greater upper Nile only)

2. SPLM/SPLA: cantonment/assembly should be nationwide. The SPLM/SPLA is saying if all GRSS forces and its ally forces can not be affected by cantonment/assembly the GRSS will use these forces negatively to undermine the peace agreement implementation.

3. SPLM/SPLA: the parties agree to disengage, separate and withdraw all forces(including allies), and demilitarise specified areas in order to increase safety and security of civilians.

1. SPLM/SPLA: All major towns and cities to be demilitarised:

GRSS: only areas where there is active combat.

3. GRSS: No salaries to SPLM/SPLA until reintegration is done.

4. SPLM/SPLA: the two armies must be treated equal( pay salaries to all)

5. The GRSS want to reintegrate the SPLM/SPLA forces who were previously on Bilpam payroll.

Gelweng/Mathiang Anyor government militias and the White army of SPLM/SPLA should not be included.

1. GRSS: doesn’t want the white Army and other recruits of the SPLM/SPLA.

SPLM/SPLA doesn’t want Gelweng/Mathiang Anyor and the recruits after 15 December 2013 in the GRSS forces:

2. SPLM/SPLA: Our forces shall never be amalgamated with your forces( GRSS) until election is done. Amalgamation will be done by elected government not by transitional government of national unity( TGONU).

3. GRSS( James Kok Ruey): accused SPLM/SPLA of separation tendency and establishment of another independent state in the greater upper Nile:

4. SPLM/SPLA( Stephen Pär Kuol): You people should read books. Nations collapsed. Sudan is the best example. If this war continues for some years to come and you( GRSS) are resisting change, this scenario of separating upper Nile can happen and not only Upper Nile, Greater Equatoria will opt for this option too.

This heated debate between the two warring parties reached a level of accusing each other of tribal tendency to control the army for narrow political interests. Other tribes especially Equatorians (Bashir Bandi) attack the two parties and accuse them of deliberate intent to make the army monopoly of Nuer and Dinka.

The discussions ended without any breakthrough on these issues and the session was adjourned for Sunday 1 March 2015 today 2:00pm at Capital Hotel.