300 SSPDF airlifted to DRC

300 SSPDF airlifted to DRC
South Sudan Peoples’ Defence Forces (SSPDF) conducting parade at Juba International Airport during departure to the DRC [Photo: Yiep Joseph/The City Review]

Summary: South Sudanese soldiers will embark on their first mission abroad alongside other regional forces under the command of the Kenya Defence Forces.

The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) have been told to observe the highest level of discipline during their maiden peace mission abroad.

“You are going to represent the country in Congo, your mission is to protect the people of Congo; don’t misbehave there,” Gen. Santino Deng Wol, SSPDF Chief of Defense Force, said when he flagged off over 300 officers who left the country yesterday for DR Congo.

The South Sudanese soldiers are part of the regional troops to restore peace in the troubled eastern DRC.

The additional soldiers add slightly over 1,000 officers to the regional troops tasked with flushing out rebels in the DRC.

Late last year, South Sudan sent 750 troops to Congo as part of their contribution to the East Africa Community Regional Force for peace and stability in the DRC.

Chol Thon Balok, Minister of Defense and Veterans Affairs, said the 300 forces will join their colleagues who were flagged off in December last year.

“The 700 soldiers are already in Congo for the mission; the total contribution of South Sudan in the DRC is over 1,000 well-trained, disciplined, and trained soldiers,” Chol said.

The second batch of 300 troops that left for the DRC yesterday was airlifted by Kenyan Air Force 226 and 224 planes.

“In my mind at all, I do not doubt that our men and women in uniform will perform well in that mission. I trust them; they are well trained, they are well oriented, and they will do it to the satisfaction of the region,” Chol promised.

 He added that the sending of the second batch was to ensure that South Sudan contributes enough forces to the regional mission.

The defense minister stressed that adding more effective South Sudanese forces to the regional force will help clear the country’s image of misconceptions.

Chol assured that the soldiers will finish their mission and return home successfully.

“Our forces will go to Congo well, and they will return home well, and they will be received in this Juba International Airport with open arms by their mothers and fathers when they come back after successfully completing the mission,” Chol said.

Meanwhile, on his part, Grafas Ogutu Kenya, charge d’affaires in South Sudan, said the Kenyan government will continue to support South Sudan in all aspects.

He expressed that providing South Sudan with planes to carry soldiers to the DRC was part of President William Ruto’s promise to support South Sudan during his visit to the country.

“During the visit of our president, Ruto, we were happy, and during the engagement, he acknowledged Kenya’s support for South Sudan,” Ogutu said.

“Today, we are here as a country and neighbor to facilitate the movement of the SSPDF that is going to the East African Regional Force for Peace Keeping Mission, and we hope that all the team will undertake its duties,” he added.

He appreciated the South Sudanese government for maintaining strong ties with the Government of Kenya, adding that more support would be provided when needed.

“We have agreed with the troops that is responsible for the East Africa Country; we are going to Congo; the army of the EAC is strong to protect the community,” Deng said.

Over the weekend, an advance party of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) troops landed in Goma, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as part of the Republic of South Sudan’s deployment under the East African Community Regional Force (EACRF).

Kenya Defense Forces are providing strategic airlift and logistics support to the South Sudan contingent from Juba to Goma International Airport. The troops will be deployed at Rumangabo Forward Operating Base, where they will be co-located with the Kenyan contingent.

The re-positioning of troops within Rutshuru and Masisi territories, now designated as a multinational sector, was approved by the Heads of State mini-summit held in Addis Ababa on February 17, 2023.

Utilities

The second batch of 300 troops that left for the DRC yesterday was airlifted by Kenyan Air Force 226 and 224 planes.

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