![General Charles Tai Gituai, the interim chairperson R-JMEC speaks during the 18th monthly meeting of the R-JMEC in Juba on July 22, 2021 [Photo by Awan Achiek/Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/28DF5224-7EAA-47CA-B4DC-A672337FDC30.jpeg?ssl=1)
There are about 53,000 first batches of joint trainees in 18 training centers across South Sudan awaiting graduation for nearly four years since late 2019 as several dates have previously been set to graduate the unified forces but have not been honored.
The government kept extending the exercise citing financial and logistical constraints, and cited arms embargo imposed by the UN Security Council.
Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, Chairman of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) stressed the need to set date for the commencement of the second phase of the training of unified forces.
“We urge the RTGoNU to urgently set the date for graduation and redeployment of the unified forces and commencement of phase two and the DDR process,” General Gituai said during the RJMEC monthly meeting held in Juba on Thursday.
General Gituai also called on the government to avail funds for the implementation of remain critical tasks of the peace agreement.
“I appeal to RTGoUN to allocate adequate funding for the implementation of the agreement including to the nationals within the mechanism, service delivery, livelihood, and constitution-making process in the fiscal year 2022/2023 budget,” Gen. Gituai said.
The 2018 revitalized peace agreement provided for the reunification of rival forces to form the country’s first professional national army. Since 2019, forces have been under training in different parts of the country.
However, owing to a lack of political will from the parties, according to the United Nations and the African Union, the forces couldn’t be graduated.
There have also been reports that government troops have not reported to training centers.
