South Sudan has not yet deployed the first batch of 51,000 National Unified Forces (NUF) due to disagreement over second echelon of the unified command structure, a peace monitor and govenment officals said.
Speaking during RJMEC plenary meeting in Juba on Thursday, Maj. Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, Interim Chairperson of RJMEC said 51,000 unified forces personnel, the majority of whom are from other organized forces are yet to deploy.
“However, under Phase I, deployment of the graduated personnel is at a limited stage, though it has begun. According to CTSAMVM, around 4,000 army NUF personnel have been deployed to the states of Upper Nile, Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria and Western Bahr El Ghazal. However, some 51,000 NUF personnel are yet to deploy, the majority of whom are from other organized forces besides the army, which also play an important role in South Sudan’s security,” Charles said.
Charles pointed out that the status of Phase II for the training of the Necessary Unified Forces remains unclear.
For his part, Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro, Minister of Cabinet Affairs said the deployment has delayed because out of more than 6, 000 SPLM-IO soldiers, some 3,700 are officers with high ranks compared to slightly above 2,000 NCOs.
“As stated earlier, the parties to the R-ARCSS that have military component agreed on the second echelon of unified second for the prisons, wildlife, fire brigade and the National Security on the 9th June, 2023. Agreement on second echelon of unified army and the police are still outstanding,” said Lomuro.
In 2022, over 52,000 security personnel graduated as the first batch of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) to join various ranks within the security sector to form a unified national army, police, and other organized forces.
Around 4,000 army NUF personnel have been deployed to Upper Nile, Eastern Equatoria, Western Equatoria and Western Bahr El Ghazal states.
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