The Turkish government has donated 218,693 military uniforms for the use of Necessary Unified Forces in South Sudan.
Major General Lul Ruai Koang, SSPDF Director for Media and Press and spokesman, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the uniforms which include battle camouflage, Air Force uniforms, and mess dress would be distributed to members of unified forces before their deployment and others will be reserved for phase two.
“The donations were received today (Tuesday) morning at the SSPDF Headquarters in Bilpham. There is a total of 218,693 pieces of uniforms including camouflage, uniforms for Air Force, and the mess dress,” he said. “They will be given to Necessary Unified Forces before they are deployed and some will be reserved for the second phase.”
He said over 53,000 unified forces who graduated last year will be deployed as soon as the National Transitional Committee (NTC), a body tasked to oversee the implementation of the 2018 peace deal, avails resources.
“It is being worked out with the Joint Defense Board (JDB) which is waiting for resources so that the forces are deployed and this is stage one,” Gen. Ruai explained. “The principals are expected to overcome the problem of positions allocated to SPLA-IO. You know in June, they (SPLA-IO) were given a total of 139 (command positions) but those positions were rejected,”
For his part, Erdem Mutaf, the Turkish Ambassador to South Sudan, said the donation of the uniforms will help in the deployment of the unified forces
“I can say that this donation of nearly 75,000 military uniforms and accompanying accessories is one of the biggest military donations that Türkiye has provided to an African country so far,” he said. “I believe that this provision will be an important contribution to the deployment of the unified forces.”
“I assure you that we as the Turkish Embassy in line with our deep historical and cultural ties with South Sudan will spare no effort to further strengthen the Turkish-South Sudanese bilateral relations in the period ahead,” Amb. Mutaf added.