Juba, South Sudan.
August 11, 2021—Addressing the presidency on Tuesday, August 10th, 2021, South Sudan Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, First Vice President and the Vice Presidents agreed to expedite the graduation of the Unified Forces as the SPLM/A-IO is breaking apart.
The meeting, which was attended by all the Vice Presidents, Presidential Advisor on Security Gen. Tut Gatluak Manime and the Minister of the presidential affairs, Dr. Marial Benjamin, addressed the current crisis in the SPLM/A-IO and found its root cause in the delayed implementation of the Security Arrangement.
In a statement obtained by Nyamilepedia, president Kiir directs the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and the VPSC Hussein Abdelbagi Akol to forward their lists of their nominees for the unified command which he believes will take place in no time.
The statement of presidency added that the unified command will compose of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, The South Sudan National Police Services, The National Security Service, The National Prisons Service, The Wildlife Forces and the Civil Defense Forces.
“The Presidency calls for the immediate unification of the command of the forces and has directed First Vice President Dr Riek Machar Teny and Vice President Hussein Abdelbagi Akol to present their list of nominees for the unified command to His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit.” The statement reads in part.
“The unified command will include the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces; the South Sudan National Police Services; the National Security Services; the National Prisons Service; the Wildlife Forces; and the Civil Defence Forces”, the statement further stated.
According to the presidency, President Kiir called on all the signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement to resort to peaceful settlement of the conflicts so that peace and tranquility in South Sudan is achieved once and for all.
“His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit directs the parties to the R-ARCSS to endeavour to resolve conflicts amicably in order to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the Republic of South Sudan”, Kiir said during presidency meeting.
The graduation of the Unified Forces should have already been done two years ago but due to intransigency of some of the peace partners to the agreement nothing has been done so far.
