Integrated police forces from the government and Agwelek faction. (Photo: Courtesy.)

Hundreds of integrated police personnel comprising government and Aqwelek forces have been deployed in the Kitgwang stronghold of Magenis “to safeguard the area along the Upper Nile-Sudan border.”

General John Odhong who heads the integrated police said there are a joint police personnel numbering 500 – with 100 officers from the allied Agwelek faction.

“Our forces, the police forces that are supposed to go to Magenis in the border which is 500 including soldiers and their officers have started leaving for Magenis, 250 arrived in Magenis,” said Gen. Odhong.

The SSPDF general told  Eye Radio on Wednesday, that the first batch of the 250 integrated police have already taken their positions in Magenis, with 250 others to be stationed in Gabaat area.

“The remaining forces are 250 so we are now preparing for their transportation to Magenis, and those who have arrived to Magenis. They already took over their position within the town as we are waiting for those who are still in Wadakona to be deployed outside the town.”

With the deployment of joint police in the border town, the government and Olony faction have realized parts of last year’s Khartoum security arrangement that the ruling SPLM party signed with the former SPLA-IO generals.

In January 2021, South Sudan’s security delegation led by Presidential Adviser for Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak and a delegation of the SPLA/IO-Kitgwang faction signed a deal in the Sudanese capital Khartoum.

The agreement provided for the establishment of coordination offices in Bor, in Jonglei state, and Malakal in Upper Nile state to facilitate the reintegration of the forces into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces.

But in June 2022, former comrades – General Johnson Olony and General Simon Gatwech Dual fell out over the implementation process.

General Gatwich had described the process as fishy and lacking genuine guarantees.

The two parties have fought each other several times, displacing thousands of civilians in Malakal and Panyikang Counties.