Ginaba Lino
The deployment of necessary unified forces has commenced in South Sudan with 750 soldiers taking their first assignment on Wednesday 15th November 2023.
Those soldiers are part of the forces comprised of members from different parties in the agreement signed in 2028
Presidential adviser on National Security, Tut Kew Gatluak who is also the Chairperson of the Transitional Committee applauds the soldiers for their patience.
Speaking during the deployment ceremony at Luri military Center, Gatluak says the deployment was delayed due to poor roads to transport food into the military Centre.
“For us to deploy the graduated Unified forces was a bit hard, for us to start the second phase of the Unified forces was hard because there were some challenges of how to take food for the unified forces are deploying today due to poor road to transport food was not easy.”
The presidential adviser on national security urges the unified forces to be the soldiers who will defend their country, not the politicians.
“Your responsibility is to defend the country and protect the citizens of the country, has you are going to the United States, know that our neighbor Sudan is in conflict, so you are there to make sure that civilians move free and are well protected.”
Tut calls on the unified forces to be friends with the civilians and avoid looting their properties.
“We don’t want to hear any issues of looting as you are going, anyone who will be found of looting will be taken out because the country is now looking for peace.”
The defense minister of veteran Affairs Chol Thon told the forces to behave responsibly because they are now the soldiers who are for the nation.
“You are the soldiers of the nation, you should behave well because when we were fighting during the SPLA strangle, we behaved well that’s why we tried and we have this country, so you too should behave well because you are the soldiers of the nation.”
He calls on the forces to be respectful and stay in peace with the communities wherever they will be deployed.
You are the soldiers of this country, so you should associate with the civilians and have a good relationship, “says the defense minister.”
The Deputy Chief of Staff-Strategy of Reconstituted Joined Monitoring Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) Dr. Thomson Fontaine welcomes the move of the South Sudan government towards peace.
Doctor Fontaine told the forces that, they have a critical part to play in the future of which they can build the foundation of prosperity in South Sudan.
“You have a critical part to play in the future of this country, a future on which you can build the foundation of prosperity, and for a strong South Sudan. As you are deployed today, we expect that you will be farm, we expect that you will carry out your duties in a manner that will make your country proud.”
He adds that the forces have a critical role to play as the country is preparing to hold general elections next year.
As you move towards choosing your leaders, the people of South Sudan will be looking towards you to maintain the peace, “RJMEC Deputy Chief stated.”
According to the Minister of Finance and planning Bak Barnaba, the finance will clear the salary of the unified forces who are deployed from August 2023 right as they reach their places of deployment.
The first trip of 750 Unified Forces are deployed to Upper Nile state where they will join Division Two of the South Sudan People Defense Forces.