The Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) in Western Bahr el Ghazal State on Sunday handed over three government vehicles they confiscated last month from a government team in Baggari.

Last Wednesday, an SPLA-IO committee from the capital, Juba arrived in Wau and traveled to Baggari on Saturday to bring the vehicles. 

Speaking during the handover on Sunday evening at the state council of ministers’ premises, the state deputy governor Zackaria Joseph Garang welcomed the move.

“They have brought back the three cars as we are seeing behind us. We are happy with the committee for their efforts and also the CTSAMVM for their strong efforts of coordination between us and the leadership of IO presence in Baggari,” he said.

Garang said the effort demonstrates goodwill in implementing the peace agreement.

“We want to understand that the state government is implementing the peace agreement and this requires us to maintain a good relationship and this is a good gesture,” he said. “Let us not compromise anyone who is trying to disrupt the implementation of the peace accord.”

On his part, General Daniel Koang Chol, who led the SPLA-IO committee confirmed the handing over of the cars and said other matters will be addressed through the administration. 

“The three cars which were taken, we brought them back today. As we speak in peace, such a problem will not happen again. If there is another problem, it will be handled by the administration,” he said. “We have handed them over and if there are few remaining things, it will be addressed by the administration because they were written and well known,” he said.

On 15 October, the opposition forces arrested Wau County Commissioner Jecinto Matia Mboro at Bringji checkpoint while traveling to Ngo-ko Boma in Wau county to inaugurate a renovated health facility in the area.

The three cars were among the items confiscated by the soldiers and were halted in Baggari headquarters.