Kiir asks Machar to submit list of officers for unified command
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has urged the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny, to submit his list of officers to be integrated into the command structure of the unified forces.
This came after his meeting with Dr Machar on Monday concerning the recently signed cessation of hostilities agreement.
“President Salva Kiir Mayardit requested the First Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny, who is the Chairman of SPLM-IO, to present to him his list of officers who will be absorbed into the Unified Command,” the statement from the office of the President read.
“Dr Riek Machar Teny said he will need some days to present his list of nominees for the formation of a unified command structure of all security organs in the country,” it added.
Addressing, the media, the Minister for Presidential Affairs, Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said President Kiir noted that South Sudanese were tired of war and needed peace, stability, and development.
He stressed that Dr Machar had pledged his total commitment to the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan and that he would not return the country to war.
Agreement signed
On April 3, 2022, the parties to the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, SSOA), signed an agreement for the Unified Command Structure for all security forces.
On the same day as the signing of the agreement, SPLM/A-IO lifted their suspension from participation in the security mechanism bodies.
“In accordance with the agreement on the unification of the command of the forces signed today by the parties to the R-ARCSS, the SPLM/A (IO) leadership has lifted the suspension of participation of its members in the meetings of the security mechanisms,” the Director for Information and Public Relations, Puok Both Baluang, said.
“The SPLM/SPLA-IO leadership hereby lifts the suspension of participation of SPLM/SPLA-IO in the meetings of security mechanisms, namely JDB, JTSC, JMCC, SDSR Board, CTSAMVM, SSM as well as the National Transitional Committee (NTC) and Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), with immediate effect.”
