Oct 26, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — To boost South Sudan security arrangement and expedite the training of the unified forces, which is currently stalled, the Chinese government is donating 1,500 tones of rice.
According to the Chinese authorities, the donation which is being channeled through the National Transitional Committee (NTC) is expected to be used to feed tens of thousands of the 83,000 unified forces that are supposed to be trained and graduated before the end of the transitional period.
Speaking to the media, the South Sudan Minister of Peace Building, Hon. Stephen Par Kuol, said the Chinese assistance will speed up the training and deployment of the unified forces.
Hon. Par appreciates the Chinese government for taking this step to support the peace process in the country.
“On behalf of the government and the people of South Sudan, I would like to express my profound pleasure to the people and the government of China for the assistance towards the peace process,” Hon. Par said during the handover ceremony on Monday.
Speaking on behalf of the Chinese government, Hua Ning, the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan said his government has contributed 2,500 tents, 50,000 blankets and 3,000 tons of rice since last year to boost South Sudan peace implementation.
“As friends and partners of the South Sudanese government and people, we wish for a smooth implementation of the peace process, especially the reunification of the army,” the Chinese ambassador said.
Ambassador Hua promised that the Chinese support to the people of South Sudan will not end there.
He added that the Chinese are currently in discussion with the ministry of defense to determine how best they can help to support the soldiers being trained and deployed.
“Our support will not end here, we are still in discussion with the ministry of defense and related institutions to see the possibility of further support for the cantonment of the army,” Hua said.
“With support of China and other international stakeholders, South Sudan will be able to complete their mission and achieve the aspiration of eternal peace, development and prosperity,” the Chinese envoy added.
According to a peace agreement signed on September 12, 2018, South Sudan is expected to train up to 83,000 forces from all the warring parties to form the national army; however, this process has proven challenging.
The parties have not moved past the pre-transitional period mechanisms that would have been completed within six months leaving doubts whether or not the parties will eventually implement the peace agreement or not.
