South Sudan's ceasefire monitors said on Monday that military instructors are ready to start training of the necessary unified forces.
Desta Abiche Ageno, chairperson of Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring, Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM), said that 2,200 army instructors are waiting to be moved to designated locations.
He disclosed that those trainers are currently in Mapel, Luri, Rambur and Malakal, pointing out that 19 training centres have already been assessed.
Abiche pointed out that the movement of instructors and trainees to training centres will require significant coordination.
He said that the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission (JMCC) and the Joint Transitional Security Committee (JTSC) are currently working together to develop plans, noting that without adequate and timely resourcing, this process is at risk of failure.
"CTSAMVM welcomes the provision of a detailed curriculum for the training of the necessary unified forces and awaits further details for the training of the VIP protection force. Training of trainers is now complete," Abiche told a board meeting in Juba.
According to Abiche, troops from all parties to the peace deal remain deployed, despite the ongoing cantonment. “This means that there has yet to be full disengagement. CTSAMVM calls on the JDB [Joint Defence Board] to address this issue as a matter of urgency,” he said.
The official, however, said the ceasefire monitoring body continues to monitor and verify cantonment, but pointed out that that the process is far from complete.
Abiche revealed that the registration process has stalled while the Joint Military Ceasefire Commission (JMCC) awaits the printing of additional registration forms.
“The lack of sufficient logistical support to cantonment sites – especially food and medicine – has continued,” Abiche noted.
He added that some cantonment sites had no food delivered, other sites received food which is finished, while some sites, including Ngo Halima, Nyara and Ashwa, received supplies last month.
Government and opposition leaders have extended the deadline to form a unity government twice, most recently on November 7, 2019, and have twice failed to make any progress towards a unity government or adequate implementation of the peace agreement.
On November 12, President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar were given 100 days to resolve outstanding issues and form a transitional government in February 2020.The parties have failed to create a unified army and determine the number of states since the revitalised peace deal was signed in September 2018.