Focus on Tonja, Fangak, and Sudan border as peace forces deploy tomorrow

JUBA – The long-awaited deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) will begin tomorrow in areas of South Sudan that have experienced conflict, including Tonja in Upper Nile State and parts of Jonglei State, as well as along the border with Sudan.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Tuesday evening, first vice president’s acting press secretary Puok Both Baluang said that a meeting chaired by First Vice President Riek Machar and attended by heads of the security agencies in Juba agreed to kick off the process tomorrow, Wednesday.

Baluang, who is also the director of information for the SPLM-IO, a main signatory to the revitalized peace agreement, said the delay in the deployment, which was initially scheduled for last month, was due to logistical issues related to food supplies.

“Yes, it is true. There was a meeting shared by the His Excellency the First Vice President in the attendance of Hon. Tut Gatluak and the heads of the organized forces,” Baluang said, without indicating as to when the meeting was held.

“These forces should have been deployed last month, but the delay of food was due to logistics issues. The food was received and will be taken to the forces who will be deployed,” he added.

He said that the deployment will start with areas of conflict such as Tonja in Upper Nile state, Greater Fangak in Jonglei and along the South Sudan border with Sudan.

“They agreed to deploy the graduated unified forces in the hotspots, the areas where there are conflicts and also along the border of South Sudan and Sudan since you are aware of the conflict in Sudan,” Baluang said.

“Among the hotspots is Tonja in Upper Nile State, and also the areas of Jonglei State, and these are among some of the hotspots agreed by the parties to deploy the graduated unified forces,” the Machar spokesman added.

The deployment of unified forces is part of the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018. The agreement calls for the unification of the country’s various armed factions under a single professional national army with one command.

The press secretary further expressed his hopes that the deployment of the unified forces will contribute to the stabilization of the world’s youngest country and the creation of a more secure environment for all the citizens.