South Sudan unified command to set timetable for graduation of forces

According to a senior official, the parties to the South Sudan peace accord want to establish a specific timeline for the graduation of the first batch of the united forces from training institutions.

The graduation of the united armed forces is a vital step in completing the chapter on security arrangements of the agreement.

President Salva Kiir announced the formation of a unified military forces command on Tuesday, putting into effect a crucial condition of the 2018 peace agreement that observers believe would aid the country’s rehabilitation from years of civil strife.

The peace agreement asks for the formation of united troops comprised of 83,000 soldiers to oversee security throughout the transition phase. In the first phase, the parties agreed to graduate 50,000 personnel.

Tut Gatluak, Head of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), told reporters in Juba on Thursday: “The delay in the graduation of the military forces in previous years was due to a lack of political resolve.” After the president settled the issue and the parties agreed on the unified command structure, there is now political will to graduate the combined forces.”

Tut, the presidential advisor on security matters, also said that the unified leadership of the armed forces would set a clear timeframe for the graduation of the unified forces next week.

“I’d want to state unequivocally that there is no dispute over the graduation of the united troops.” “The debate over the unified command organization is already addressed,” he stated.

“I also want to remind our personnel to be prepared for graduation.” After the Easter vacation, the schedule for the first class’s graduation will be ready, and we will then go on to the second cohort, “he said.

The senior official reaffirmed the unity government’s commitment to putting in place the security procedures outlined in the 2018 peace accord.

“Armed forces graduation is a technological problem that will not take long.” Despite the fact that the nation is under UN sanctions, the soldiers would be graded and deployed,” Tut concluded.