New Division 4 Commander rejects war, urges SPLA-IO return to cantonment

The newly appointed SSPDF Division 4 Commander, Major General Manyuat Manyzol, has pledged to prioritize peace in Unity State by initiating a formal outreach to SPLA-IO forces.

Speaking in Bentiu, the General urged opposition members to return to designated cantonment areas, offering a guarantee of safety for those who rejoin the peace process.

Cantonment sites were established under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) as transitional spaces for the assembly, registration, and eventual integration or demobilization of forces.

Major General Manyuat was appointed earlier this month as the new commander of Division 4 in Unity State, headquartered in Bentiu. He succeeds Major General Matthew Puljang Top, following a previous assignment as the division commander in Maridi, Western Equatoria State.

In a statement following his assumption of command, the General emphasized that his leadership is focused on reconciliation and that opposition members are welcome to rejoin the peace process without fear of military retaliation.

Major General Manyuat offered a public guarantee of safety for SPLA-IO members, stating that even those who appear at official functions while armed will not be targeted.

“I will reach out to our brothers in the SPLA-IO and ask them to return to their cantonment areas,” Manyuat stated. “Even if they choose to attend the Governor’s reception while armed, no one will shoot at them because there is no need for us to kill one another. They are allowed to move freely with their weapons and their ranks.”

The General linked the need for peace to the ongoing environmental crisis in Unity State. After surveying the region by air, he noted that the severity of the flooding requires a unified humanitarian response rather than military confrontation.

“No need for war, as it’s not the solution to our problems; fighting is not a solution,” he said. “What I saw from the plane—our land swallowed by water—shows that we are facing a disaster, not a time for war.”

A key priority for the new command is the restoration of total freedom of movement for civilians in Bentiu and the surrounding areas. The General pledged to ensure that security conditions improve to the point where residents can move safely at any hour of the night.

The commander concluded by reiterating that his arrival in Unity State is intended to promote state-wide stability and end the cycle of conflict between local groups.