A high-level delegation from the Joint Transitional Security Committee or JTSC is visiting the Masna Biira Training Center in Westen Bahr el Ghazal State to assess preparations ahead of the graduation of the unified forces.

According to the head of the committee, Lieutenant General Ashab Khamis Fahal, they will also visit the Mapel Training Centre in Wau and Pantid Training Centre in Aweil, Northern Bahr el Ghazal State. 

Lt. Gen. Khamis addressed the press in Masna Biira this morning, “This visit to the centers aims to see the parade of the forces on the ground and at the same time to see the readiness of these forces for the graduation. Also, we want to see the nature of the center and its ability to receive the second batch of the forces after this graduation.” 

He pointed out that the field reports will be shared with the general headquarters in Juba. 

“Today in Masna Biira, we have got all the information that we come for, we will bring this information to the general headquarters so that it can speed up the graduation program to receive the second batch,” he said.

Gen. Khamis acknowledged that the forces face numerous challenges including a lack of basic needs like food and medication but promised that in less than two weeks the forces will receive food.

“The situation is very clear that there is lack of food at all centers and lack of drugs but people there predict that there will be peace in the country that is why when we arrived, people were not at the centers but they all come and this tells that all forces need peace in South Sudan,” he said.

“We are planning to send food to the centers because, after the graduation, the forces need food, a week or two weeks, the food will arrive and the graduation will take place,” he said. 

The unification of government and opposition forces is a crucial part of the necessary security arrangements under the 2018 revitalized peace deal. However, the graduation of the much-awaited unified forces has been delayed due to what the unity government terms as “logistical and financial constraints.”

The JTSC is mandated under Article 2.2.8 of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan to set eligibility criteria for candidates willing to serve in the unified forces, as well as plan and execute the unification of all forces.