Unified forces ready for graduation, says Joint Security Mechanism

JUBA – The heads of the Joint Security Mechanism have said they have completed all the necessary preparation for the graduation of the unified forces deployed in various training centers.

The group submitted its report to Tut Gatluak Manime, the Chairperson of the National Transitional Committee on Tuesday.

The committee, which comprises the Joint Defense Board (JDB), Joint Military Ceasefire Commission (JMCC), Joint Transitional Security Committee (JTSC), said the forces were only waiting for approval from the presidency to allow them to proceed to a pass-out parade.

The report was compiled after the group visited the training centers and cantonment sites across the country following the directive from President Salva Kiir on August 10 calling on them to visit the forces.

Call to action

Also, in the same statement highlighting a high-profile meeting of the presidency meeting, Kiir urged the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny and Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol to present their list of nominees for the unified command.

On Tuesday, Tut said after the graduation of the first batch of the unified forces, the other groups will be trained as stipulated in the peace agreement.

“We work for peace and we stand for peace, the president and the first vice president urge the trainees to remain in the various cantonment sites as they wait for their graduation,” Tut said in the statement.

However, there have been reports of soldiers deserting cantonment sites and training centers due to a lack of food, medicine, and other basic needs.

According to the peace monitoring body, Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanisms, the lack of sufficient logistical support to the cantonment sites, especially food and medicine have compelled many of the registered forces to leave the designated sites of MirMir, Kendila, Sue, Ngo Alimah and Pantiit.

However, Tut said the national pre-transitional committee had contracted an international company to supply and distribute food items to the various cantonment sites in the country.

The September 2018 peace deal provided for South Sudan to form a unified national army of at least 83,000 troops before a transitional unity government is formed but did not happen up to date.

The unified command will include the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, the South Sudan National Police Services, the National Security Services, the National Prisons Service, the Wildlife Forces; and the Civil Defence Forces.