Forces’ graduation now awaits timetable – SSPDF
The long-overdue graduation of the first batch of the Unified Forces is now subject to the formation of a timetable yet to be released, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces’ (SSPDF) headquarters has said.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai, the SSPDF Spokesperson and member of the Joint Defence Board, said the latter, which comprises Chiefs of Staff and Director-Generals of the National Security Service, police, and all other organised forces, will soon come up with the timetable.
“The presidency directed the JDB to prepare the graduation timetable… We have not received any directives from them. [we may receive it], but I don’t know how soon],” Lul said.
Recently, the Presidency held a meeting in Juba to discuss the pending Transitional Security Arrangement under Chapter Two of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (RARCSS).
During the meeting, the Joint Defence Board (JDB) briefed the presidency on the process of screening, reorganisation, and graduation of the unified forces.
The JDB raised concerns about the challenges facing the forces, among them, the flooding in most parts of the country that hindered the movement to most cantonment and training sites.
After the presentation, the Joint Transitional Security Committee (JTSC) was then directed by the presidency to come up with the graduation timeline for subsequent approval by the presidency in the next meeting.
Hold up in a meeting
In the meeting, the principals of the peace agreement namely President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Dr Riek Machar and Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, were given one week to agree on the Unified Command to pave ways for the graduation.
As the delay continues, the new Chairperson of the CTSAMVM, Lt. Gen. Asrat Denero Amad, on Wednesday warned that the transitional security arrangement was facing pressure and could break soon.
He attributed this to the lack of implementation of Chapter Two of the agreement to train, graduate, and redeploy the provided 83,000 necessary unified forces under the peace deal.
“Pertaining to the very critical issue of the permanent ceasefire, there is a concern that the ceasefire is under pressure and could be fracturing. There are areas where it is apparently being undermined, “Denero warned.
The graduation, which has been sung for over a year and characterised by defections, has created pessimism not only among the forces but also the citizens who are ambitious for peaceful South Sudan to rebuild their livelihoods.
According to earlier reports by the security monitoring mechanism, more than half of the joint forces were reported to have deserted the training centres and cantonment sites due to unbearable conditions.
However, the government blamed this on a lack of funding and logistical constraints exacerbated by the arms embargo and target individual sanctions for the delay of the forces’ graduation.
Recently, the Cabinet Minister, Dr Elia Martin Lomuro, called on South Sudanese to contribute in kind or by cash to expedite the process but was widely criticised.
Besides, disagreement on the forces’ contribution ratio and command structure by the principal parties have also affected the passing out of the first batch of the forces.
