Juba, South Sudan,
July 10, 2021 — South Sudan President Salva Kiir has on Friday, 9th of July 2021, promised to graduate at least 53,0000 unified forces at various cantonment sites.
According to Kiir, the force will comprise of forces from security sector who are now ready for graduation and he believes will take place very soon.
In his televised address to the Nation on the 10th Independence Anniversary yesterday, President Kiir pledged to the people that despite all challenges affecting the graduation such as the arms embargo imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on South Sudan he said they are still serious to graduate the Unified Forces since it is one of the priorities and crucial provisions under the signed Peace Agreement.
“On the security, we established cantonment centers for unification of forces. ” Already fifty- three Thousands (53,000), comprising of forces from security sector are now ready for graduation “, President Kiir said.
” Despite many challenges, including our inability to provide with the necessary weapons, because of the arms embargo unfairly imposed on us, we are committed to graduate them as a matter of critical responsibility under the peace agreement” Kiir added.
Kiir admitted that there is a long way to go and more efforts should be exerted to improve security in the country.
Kiir, who has failed to disarm civilians, expressed his concern over sporadic tribal feuds across South Sudan which he believes is caused by the presence of guns in the hands of civilians.
” I am keenly aware that we still have a lot of work to do to achieve total security in our country. We still have incidences of insecurity in areas where National Salvation Front (NAS) operates and arms in the hands of civilians” He emphasized.
President Kiir assured that he is committed to the peace agreement and said he will engage the holdout groups (SSOMA) through Sant’Egidio Rome mediation process in order to resolve their outstanding issues for peace to reign in the country.
