By Lodu William Odiya
Lack of funding has hindered Phase Two Transitional Security Arrangement process of Unification of Forces, the army said.
South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson, Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang told No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper in a telephone interview that without resources at hand, nothing can be done for the process to move.
“We are still waiting for resources because nothing we can do without having resources needed” SSPDF spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Koang said.
Meanwhile, the chairperson of the National Transitional Committee, recently announced that the phase two security arrangement would commence in September, this year.
The Chairperson of NTC made the revelation on the state-owned Television SSBC, this week.
However, according to Maj. Gen. Lul, the Phase Two of the Transitional Security Arrangements would commence if the fund is released.
“So, he (NTC leader) had promised to follow up with the ministry of finance on the need for funds to be released so that these activities could be restarted” he emphasized.
The efforts to reach the National Ministry of Finance and planning were unsuccessful at press time.
Lack of fund has been a major challenge in the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
On the other hand, in response to resumption of the implementation of the Phase Two Security Arrangement, South Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), cited the need to prioritize release of opposition members from detention.
The National Transitional Committee (NTC) is a body tasked with overseeing the implementation of the 2018 peace deal.
It works with the peace mechanisms to coordinate activities and also lobby for funds so that the mechanisms implement and execute their objectives.
Chapter Two of the R-ARCSS entails security arrangements, government and opposition forces to canton and train unified forces during a three-year transitional period leading into elections.
Under the 2018 peace deal, South Sudan is to graduate 83,000 unified forces drawn from the various parties to take charge of security of the country during the ongoing transitional period.
In 2022 The transitional government of national unity commenced the graduation of necessary unified forces comprising the army, police, national security, and other units to formed national army for South Sudan.
At least 53 thousand soldiers graduated as the first batch of the unified forces.