South Sudan peace forces in Bahr el Ghazal, Upper Nile regions to graduate next week – Tut Gatluak

JUBA – South Sudan government is ready for graduation of the first batch of unified forces in Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal regions next week, the country’s presidential security advisor Tut Gatluak Manimeh, who is also the head of the National Transitional Committee (NTC), said Friday.

This comes less than a week after the government graduated over 21,000 peace soldiers comprising army, police, and officers of the prison service, national security offices, and civil defense.

More than 53,000 unified forces are expected to graduate this year and will take part in national security, police, prison services, and even wildlife services.

The goal is to graduate 83,000 as enshrined in the 2018 peace deal.

Speaking during a press conference in Juba on Friday, Gatluak said forces in Torit in Eastern Equatoria will be graduated together with forces in the Upper and Bahr el Ghazal regions.

“We are going to graduate forces presence in Torit Town in Eastern Equatoria, military camp in the Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal and Unity State next week,” Gatluak said at Friday’s press conference.

“As preparation to graduate forces in unity state, the forces have been a move from Kaljak to Bentiu town for graduation and they are now in Bentiu.”

Gatluak disclosed that after graduation, phase two will commence.

“The forces will be graduated and we begin phase two, all forces in Equatoria, Bahr el Ghazel and Upper Nile will get into training centers,” he said.

“If we deploy the unified forces, the problem in South Sudan will be resolved because when we have one army working for national interest, they will resolve the issues of proliferation of the arms.”

He said the unified forces will take charge of security across the country.

“They will address the border issues and also problems such as cattle raiding and others that need coordination with civil authorities.”