South Sudan has deployed only 6% of planned unified forces

JUBA – South Sudan’s peace monitoring body, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring & Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), has raised concerns about the slow deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF).

Only 6% of the planned 83,000 forces have been deployed with less than eight months remaining in the transitional period. CTSAMVM Chairperson Maj. Gen Hailu Gonfa Eddosa, speaking during a meeting in Juba on Tuesday, emphasized the urgency.

“The formation of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) is a vital prerequisite for the upcoming elections; so far only about 6% of the planned 83,000-strong NUF has actually been deployed. Time is running out. Action must be taken,” he said.

He noted that graduates from the first phase of training for the National Security Services (NSS), Police, Civil Defence, Wildlife, and Prison Service are still awaiting deployment. There are no indications of when Phase 2 training and deployment might begin.

The CTSAMVM chief explained that opposition members of the unified forces from the SPLA-IO and SSOA have been without salaries since October last year, as they were initially excluded from the government payroll despite their graduation.

Gen. Eddosa however reported that deployed members of the unified forces from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, have started receiving their salaries.

“On a positive note, CTSAMVM has evidence that at least some of those members of the NUF from the SPLM/A-IO and SSOA who have been deployed are now receiving their salaries,” he said.

“There were disturbances in Yambio last week when some NUF soldiers were not paid. This issue was resolved, and all soldiers in the unit received salaries,” he said.