Kiir says unified forces to graduate without guns

JUBA — South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has said that the country’s unity government will be forced to graduate the unified forces without guns, blaming internal and external factors for the delay in the graduation of the forces.

Speaking during the closing session of the 5th Governors’ Forum in Juba on Monday, the South Sudanese president said challenges affecting the implementation of the security arrangements include the arms embargo and disagreements between the forces over the percentage of allocation.

“There are three challenges impeding faster implementation of security arrangements. One is an external challenge while the remaining two are internal challenges whose solutions are within our reach,” Kiir said.

“The first challenge is the arms embargo that has limited our ability to procure arms for troops in training camps. We have repeatedly informed the UN system about the negative impact this has on the implementation of Chapter 2 of the Agreement, and all we have received in return are more conditions that do not recognize progress achieved so far,” he added.

He said the unity government will have to graduate the forces without guns as this has hampered standing of the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGONU).

“As things stand, we will have no option other than to graduate these forces with sticks when the other two challenges I will speak to shortly are resolved,” Kiir added.