The transitional government has dispatched a convoy of over 100 trucks loaded with essential food supplies to aid the Unified Forces stationed at various training centres across the country.
The conveyance of these vital provisions was officially transferred to the National Transitional Committee (NTC), an entity entrusted with overseeing the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, which ended a six-year conflict.
Toward the fulfilment of the peace accord, South Sudan has committed to the graduation of 83,000 Unified Forces, sourced from diverse factions, tasked with maintaining security during the ongoing transitional phase.
The relief supplies, encompassing commodities like sugar, maize, lentils, beans, and rice, were procured by the government to aid in the deployment and training of the second phase of the Unified Forces.
Tut Gatluak Manime, Chairman of the NTC, conveyed during a press briefing on Thursday that the arrival of this consignment addresses a longstanding challenge concerning food provisions for armed forces. He stated that the delivery of food items will undoubtedly expedite the deployment of our graduated Unified Forces.
Gatluak asserted that these supplies would be methodically stored and subsequently distributed across various regions, including Equatoria, Bahr el Ghazal, and Upper Nile.
Stephen Par Kuol, Minister for Peace Building, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We have received a total of 97 trucks here, the rest are on the way—there are a total of 100 trucks designated for the training centres and cantonments. This emergency food is for facilitating the deployment of forces and the commencement of phase two training of the Unified Forces.”
Par also extended gratitude to collaborators and stakeholders involved in the peace process, underscoring the commitment to meticulous implementation of the R-ARCISS chapter two.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Mapendere, Chief Security Advisor for the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, lauded the government’s proactive efforts in securing food supplies for the Unified Forces.
He highlighted the pivotal role of food provisions in expediting the deployment of phase one forces and the subsequent training of phase two. Mapendere expressed, “We hope this process is going to continue without any delay, but also at the same time we want to make a remark that food is so important. Simultaneously, we stress the importance of providing allowances to instructors, troops, and all personnel involved in the food distribution.”
The procurement of these essential provisions was orchestrated by Endeavour General Trading Company. However, details about the awarding of the contract to the company remain undisclosed.
During the handover event, NTC Chairman Tut Gatluak limited media interaction with the company representative, leaving the specifics of the arrangement shrouded in secrecy.