Logistical gaps threaten forces’ graduation
The chairman of the Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) has revealed that logistical support has remained a challenge, derailing the graduation of forces.
At the opening of the technical committee meeting yesterday, Teshome Gemechu Aderie said there was positive progress in the screening, but there was a concern about the lack of food and medicine at the cantonment sites.
“Since the last CTC, the very dire situation at the cantonment sites continues with a lack of food and medicines. Further, there were reported clashes between SSPDF and SPLM/A-IO from January 9 through 13 at Liang, Mirmir, and Turow cantonment sites, which you will be briefed on, ” Teshome said.
“Regarding the training centres, CTSAMVM has observed positive progress with screening undertaken by the regional committees of the JDB responsible for assessing the situation in training centres in order to start processing the forces for graduation. However, the logistical concerns raised at previous CTCs remain because most training centres report a serious lack of food, shelter, and other essential services. “
Attacks probed
The chairman said that there were continued attacks by National Salvation Front (NAS) forces in Central Equatoria State, which he said CTSAMVM was investigating.
“Since the last CTC, there have been several incidents allegedly involving NAS forces in Central Equatoria. We are investigating these incidents, and you will be briefed on these incidents, ” he stated.
“We acknowledge the efforts of the community of Sant’Egidio to work with CTSAMVM, RJMEC, IGAD, and SSOA to resume the Rome process.”
The violations reported included clashes in Upper Nile State, allegations of killing of an SPLM/A-IO officer in Eastern Equatoria State, reported assault of a CTSAMVM National Monitor in Western Equatoria State, the reported deployment of SSPDF forces in Baggari, Western Equatoria, the status of 11 Division SSPDF, alleged recruitment and training by party signatories, and alleged NAS incidents.
The TGoNU senior representative, Maj Gen Gatwech Duop, said that peace must be prioritised through the implementation of the agreement. He said that South Sudanese must strive to solve their problems by themselves. He advocated for NAS to be included in the ceasefire monitoring.
The representative of SPLM/A-IO showed concern over child abduction, forced recruitment, forced marriage, and other similar issues in Yambio and the deployment of the Wau-Bagari road.
He called for CTSAMVM to hold meetings without spending a long time on them. He said that they supported peace.
The representative of SSOA said that flooding and lack of food in the training centres led to a slow pace for the graduation of forces and that urgent attention should be given to it to expedite the process of the graduation of forces.
FD representative, Simon Maker Mading, said the troops should be evacuated from areas inhabited by civilians, accusing the parties to the agreement of being insensitive. He said the troops mingling with civilians could cause insecurity for them.
Budget released
In December 2021, the government released funds for the screening of the unified forces. The money was presented to the security committees to carry out screening.
The minister for information, Michael Makuei Lueth, said the directive had been issued for the screening of soldiers to be put into immediate effect.
“These three committees got their funding today, they will be leaving as soon as possible.” The president has directed that this process should immediately be expedited so that this first batch of the forces is graduated within the shortest period of time.”
The minister said that they were ready to graduate forces without firearms, given the unyielding lifting of the arms embargo.
“If we are ready to graduate them under any circumstances, as you know very well, some of the forces have no arms, but we will graduate them with sticks because the international community is on our necks, and they are saying that we are not serious, so we will graduate them with sticks if necessary,” Makuei said.
President Salva Kiir at the governors’ forum said that the arms embargo was a great setback to the graduation of forces. He added that if the ban was not lifted, the soldiers would be graduated with sticks.
“We have repeatedly informed the UN system about the negative impact this has on the implementation of chapter two of the agreement, and all we have received in return are more conditions that do not recognise the progress achieved so far,” said Kiir.
“Hence, in the distance, we will have no option other than to graduate these forces with sticks when the other two challenges are resolved,” he added.
