Graduation of unified forces awaits new SSPDF chief of staff – defense ministry official

JUBA – A member of Joint Defense Board (JDB) of South Sudan said the graduation of the necessary unified forces is awaiting the new chief of Staff of South Sudan people’s Defense Force (SSPDF), General Santino Deng Wol.

Last week, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir appointed General Santino Deng Wol as the new head of the army after relieving General Johnson Juma Okot and assigned him as grade one Ambassador to Belgium.

“As far as security is concern, we have just received new deployment, the chairperson was relieved and now we have new CDF who is going to start work when he become the chairperson of JDB,” said Colonel Lam Paul Gabriel, a member of JDB and press secretary for Defense Minister, Angelina Teny this afternoon.

Paul said the preparation for graduation of unified forces has been halted until the new chief of staff calls for a meeting to pave the way for the graduation process.

“Every work as far as security arrangement is concern has to be paused until the first meeting commence, we are waiting for him take his office then he has to call for meeting in which will be brief about what has happen since the start of security arrangement up to now in which he will come out with decision on what to done next,” Gabriel said.

“He has already started working as CDF of SSPDF but as far as JDB is concerned he is yet to make a meeting of JDB to see what is there and then to give further instructions on when to graduate the forces,” he added.

The Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) formed in February last year is yet to complete the training, and graduation of the unified forces that are to take charge of the security during the three-year transitional period when  the country  is expected to hold elections.

The parties in the coalition government are yet to also establish the national legislature, states as well as Hybrid Court and other transitional justice institutions provided for in the revitalized peace agreement.