The SPLM in Opposition says it will take one more week before its first team of security forces arrives in Juba.

According to the new security arrangements reached last week, the SPLM in Opposition will first send 1,370 forces to Juba to speed up the return of Dr Riek Machar.

The rest, including those that will be dispatched to some of the state capitals, will come in the second phase.

In a statement, the spokesman of the SPLM in Opposition forces, Col William Gatjiath Deng, says the Ethiopian government ‘is needed to approve transit of light weapons through Gambella to Juba’.

Mr Gatjath says they also need the government to designate clearly the areas for the opposition forces in Juba.

This would also include what he calls basic life support, such as food, water and medical care for their soldiers.

Mr Gatjath also said it would take time for their forces to gather at specific locations to be transported to Malakal, where they would be airlifted to Juba.

He said their forces could have been expected in Juba today, but will never come due to the arrangements.

Yesterday, the spokesman of the advance team in Juba, William Ezekiel, said their forces would come soon after addressing what he called technical challenges.

The forces are required in Juba so that Dr Riek Machar could return to the capital to work with President Salva Kiir to form a government of national unity under the peace agreement.