Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has finally released the money needed for the graduation of the unified forces provided for in the revitalized peace agreement.
Speaking to reporters in Juba on Friday, information minister and government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth said President Kiir has directed the Joint Defense Board, Joint Transitional Security Committee, and the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission to start the process of graduation.
“These three committees got their funding today and they will be leaving as soon as possible,” Makuei told reporter after the cabinet meeting.
Makuei who is also the official government spokesman however said the peace forces will graduate with sticks due to lack of arms for the soldiers saying the international community is on the government’s neck.
“We will graduate them with sticks because the International Community is on our neck and they are saying we are not serious,” Makuei stated.
The graduation has been postponed several times due to “lack of funds”. But observers call it “lack of political” given the millions of dollars the government offered the NTC.
There are thousands of troops drawn from the SSPDF, SPLA-IO, and the Opposition Alliance across the country. They have been at the training camps since 2019. Some soldiers have been deserting these training centers due to a lack of food, medicines, and safe clean water.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
