Matik Kueth
Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The deployment of the necessary unified forces (NUF) may be delayed due to the presence of the first NUF in the training centres since there are not enough spaces for the second batch.
Speaking to The City Review on Monday, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai, the spokesperson for South Sudan’s People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), stated that the date for the second phase of the deployment of the Unified Forces has not yet been determined.
He lamented that if the training centres are not set free, there will be inadequate space for the second phase of the unified forces.
“We have not received any specific timeline or guidance on how it will be started because we still have the necessary Unified Forces (NUF) in the training centres and the priority is for them to be deployed so that they free up training centres for the second phase to commence. Because there will be no space if the forces in the training centres do not leave,” Ruai stated.
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, spokesperson for the SPLA-IO, told The City Review that the second batch of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) will be deployed under the predetermined percentage allocated to the SSPDF, other organised forces, and the SPLA-IO.
“The list of the number of SPLA-IO forces was submitted to the president by the First Vice President and the commander-in-chief of the SPLM/A-IO. Now, this list will also meet the list of the SSPDF and the SSOA, which are already with the president and then the deployment of the second command will happen based on the agreed percentage of 60 for the SSPDF and other organised forces and 40 per cent for the opposition,” Col. Lam said.
He noted that the date for the deployment of the second batch of the NUF is not yet known, adding that President Salva Kiir will determine the time frame.
On April 4, 2024, President Salva Kiir and the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar, agreed that the deployment of phase two of the unified forces would kick off in the next two weeks.
Tut Gatluak Manime, Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs, who was present during the Kiir and Machar’s meeting, stressed that both parties are committed to implementing the key provisions of the peace agreement to achieve sustainable peace and stability in the country.
On April 23, 2024, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) voiced concerns over delays in the commencement of phase two training and deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF).
Gen. Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, the CTSAMVM’s chairperson, said it is sad to see that the parties to the agreement have not been able to start the process.
The parties are supposed to graduate the unified forces that include police, army, intelligence, and wildlife officers to take charge of security during the ongoing transitional period and the roadmap.
Source: The City Review South Sudan
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
