The Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) has raised concern over the continued lack of food and medicine for forces at the cantonment sites.
Speaking during the opening session of the CTSAMVM Technical Committee Meeting in Juba on Thursday, the mechanism’s Chairperson, Lt. Gen. Asrat Denero Amad says most of the cantonment sites across the country report lack of food and medicine.
“The very dire situation at the cantonment sites continues with a lack of food and medicine. The logistical concerns raised at previous CTSAMVM meeting remain because most training centers and cantonment sites report a serious lack of food, shelter, and other essential services,” Amad said.
Several cantonment sites and training centers have in the past reported a lack of food and services. In 2021, most soldiers at the Rambur training center in Juba County threatened to exit the camp due to a lack of food and essential supplies.
Amad appealed to the Joint Defense Board (JDB) to fast-track the process of deployment of forces by providing a deployment plan for the more than 50,000 unified forces to pave way for the second phase of training.
“CTSAMVM urges JDB to provide the deployment plan of the graduated forces, and further urges the Joint Transitional Security Committee (JTSC) to provide a plan for phase one training as well as the future plans for cantonment sites,” he recommended.
According to the chairperson, South Sudan has so far graduated 55,427 unified forces.