South Sudan Deploys First Rebel, Govt Unified Forces

By Deng Machol

JUBA, South Sudan - The South Sudan transitional government has started the deployment of the former government and rebel forces in necessary unified forces to take up the country's security ahead of the country's first-ever general elections in December 2024.

A battalion of about 750 soldiers including 150 female combatants was ferried to Upper Nile’s capital Malakal in the area of Tonja to beef up security, following a deployment ceremony held at the Luri Military Training Center, west of Juba's capital of South Sudan.

The Tonja has been the site of fighting between different factions in recent months, including the Agwelek faction of General Johnson Olony and the SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction of General Simon Gatwech Dual.

This is the first batch of troops loyal to Kiir and Machar to be deployed from the 53, 000 Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) that graduated last year, after the two principals largely failed to meet key provisions of the peace agreement, including drafting a constitution and electoral legislation.

Upper Nile State which borders war-torn Sudan has harbored fears of insecurity, with the increased influx of refugees and returnees from the neighbouring country.

The forces were drawn from training centers in Owiny Bul in Eastern Equatoria, Maridi in Western Equatoria, and Panyier in Jonglei state.

President Salva Kiir and his rival Riek Machar turned deputy president in 2020, signed a revitalized version of a 2015 peace deal in 2018 to end a five-year-old civil war.

The agreement provides for the reunification of the various factions to form a professional national army

This is also expected to pave the way for the training of the second batch who will later be graduated to help the country achieve the target of 83,000 members of the unified forces under the 2018 revitalized peace agreement.

The unified forces consisted of police, wildlife, prisons, intelligence, and military officers.

The deployment aims to combat insecurity in the restive Upper Nile area, according to Tut Gatluak, the chair of the National Transitional Committee and presidential security advisor, adding that President Kiir ordered the deployment of the forces across the country.

At the same event, Santino Wol, the country’s chief of defense forces, warned the soldier "not to get involved in politics.”

Meanwhile, the country's Interior Minister Angelina Teny urged the forces to protect the territorial integrity of the country and ensure the safety of the citizens.

“You’re an ideal for the new South Sudan national army, that can bring peace and stability of peace in this country,” Angelina said.

Minister of Information, Michael Makuei told soldiers you are the national army that isn't loyal to any party.

“We are going for elections and you are to make sure that peace prevails so that elections can proceed peacefully,” said Makuei.

The forces in Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal regions are expected to be deployed soon.