Over 1500 unified forces graduate in Eastern Equatoria

JUBA – South Sudan parties to the revitalized peace agreement have graduated over 1500 soldiers of the unified forces in Eastern Equatoria state as part of the first batch of the unified forces provided for in chapter two of the peace agreement, according to an army spokesman.

Brig. Gen. Wichjang Duop, spokesman of the forces belonging to South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), told Sudans Post in Eastern Equatoria state’s capital Torit that at least 1540 members of the unified forces have graduated today.

“Today, it is another progress in the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and specially the chapter two of the peace agreement and we have graduated 1540 of the unified forces here in Eastern Equatoria state,” Gen. Wichjang said.

“This is an important development for the implementation process of the agreement and very soon, the remaining forces in batch one of the graduation process will be completed and then we will move to chapter two of the graduation,” he added.

Speaking during the event, minister of defense and veterans’ affairs Angelina Teny thanked the forces for their patience during the four-year duration of stay characterized by lack of basic services such as food and medicines.

“This is a good day not only for you, but for the nation. The revitalized peace agreement is the only roadmap that will stabilize our country and we call upon you to be professional in your work as armed forces of South Sudan not of an individual political party,” she said.

The graduation ceremony that was organized at Freedom Square in Torit was also attended by senior government officials as well as senior army commanders including the Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen. Santino Deng Wol.

The graduation also comes two days after the parties graduated over 2000 members of the peace forces in Western Equatoria state.