S. Sudan invites African heads of state to the graduation of the unified forces, but no date has been set.
NCMP
June 11, 2022
Despite the latest United Nations Security Council sanction, the government has made it clear that it will continue with the graduation of unified forces.
Taban Deng Gai, Vice President for Infrastructure Cluster, extended an invitation to ‘all’ African heads of state and governments to attend the event on Friday, June 10.
“Permit me to bring you good news from South Sudan,” Gai said. “Our parties to the agreement under our able President, Salva Kiir, agreed on the unification of forces and command structure.”
However, VP Gai did not specify a date for the aforementioned graduation of necessary unified forces.
The invitation, delivered by Gai in Mogadishu, where he represented President Salva Kiir at the inauguration ceremony of Hassan Sheik Mohamoud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, could be interpreted as a strong commitment to the state to implement the revitalized agreement.
“Despite the latest arms embargo, South Sudan will continue with the graduation of unified forces.” These forces will soon be graduated. President Salva Kiir has invited all heads of state and governments to the graduation of the United Nations Forces,” Gai added in his invitation to other African heads of state and governments.
Prior to the long-awaited exercise, the country is facing a shortage of military equipment, including guns.
“The most difficult part of implementing the agreement was this part of security sector reform,” he added.
“May I bring you excellent news from South Sudan that our parties to the agreement have agreed on the unification of troops and command structure,” Gai stated in Mogadishu, where he represented President Salva Kiir at Hassan Sheik Mohamoud’s inauguration as President of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
Deng Dau Deng, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, accompanied the vice president.
He praised the Somali government’s efforts to hold free, fair, and credible elections, and vowed that the country would increase bilateral cooperation with Somalia.
