Juba, South Sudan
December 15, 2021—The Joint Defense Board has started sending delegations to various training centers to start screening the unified forces for graduation as required by the peace deal.
In a statement seen by Nyamilepedia, the JDB will recognize the necessary unified national army prior to graduation days.
“The Joint Defense Board – the JDB, is dispatching teams to start screening and reorganizing the necessary unified forces at training centers across the country”, the statement reads.
The statement says the delegations consists of more than 400 personnel led by the main opposition group (SPLA-IO), South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) and South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) are expected to tour cantonment sites in Bahr El-Ghazal, Unity State and Upper Nile respectively.
“Three teams, comprising 470 members, led by the SSPDF, SPLA-IO and SSOA will visit the sites in Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria and Upper Nile respectively”, the statement added.
In his part, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Spokesperson said that the team tasked with mission to Equatoria will leave today while the other two teams will follow tomorrow.
The SPLA-IO Spokesperson, Col Lam Paul Gabriel, said food will be availed from the National Security stores for forces in the Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal areas.
The graduation of the unified forces is far behind schedule.
According to the peace agreement, the graduation of the unified forces should have been done before the formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity which was formed in March last year.
On 9th of July 2021, President Kiir during his address to nation said the graduation of the unified army in the country shall be expedited for country to have one national army with one Commander-in-Chief.
