July 25, 2021 — Latest reports from Rajaf training center have revealed that a number significant to form two platoons of soldiers has died in Rajaf training center alone as the South Sudanese warring parties are yet to finalize the unification and deployment of forces as required by the Revitalized Agreement of the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan(R-ARCISS).
Speaking to Al-Jazeera at Rajaf training center, the Deputy Chief Instructor, Col. James Khor Chuol, confirmed that at least 62 trainees have died in their training center alone, adding that he can’t verify how many have died in other training centers; however, he believes that a lot more trainees have died so far.
” Have lost 62 trainees. 62 trainees they died in this training center alone, in Rajaf training center alone. I don’t know how many are dying in other training centers” Col. James Khor Chuol said.
“So this is a big number. In army these are two platoons that have died in one training center”.Khor continued.
While many opposition forces and handful of government soldiers are languishing in cantonment centers without clear direction on when they will be graduated, the government in Juba is pulling strings on arms embargoes and individual sanctions.
Speaking to media recently, the Minister in the office of the president, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin reiterated what president Kiir said recently that because of arms embargoes South Sudan cannot afford to buy even a pistol leaves alone weapons to equip the trainees and that continues to delay their graduation.
“You have given us arms embargoes, and you want us at the same time to form a Unified Army with people being trained. Where do we get the guns to give them if we can’t even buy a pistol.”
According to Marial, the issue of arms embargoes remains a challenge but since those who are imposing the arms embargoes have interests they want reflected in South Sudan, they may remove the arms embargoes if they want their interests reflected in South Sudan.
“That is a challenge but with understanding with our partners, they got their own interest that they would like to see reflected in this country” Marial Benjamin said.
South Sudan’s warring parties signed a revitalized peace agreement in 2018 with hopes to implement it in 3 years but three years later, no significant progress has been made.
The security arrangement, establishment of the hybrid court, permanent constitution amendment, reparations of refugees, peace and reconciliation, among many other mechanisms, all remain on papers.
