Bida Elly David
The Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) has declared Tuesday August 30th the day for the graduation of the first Batch of the Necessary Unified Forces as a public holiday.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit made the declaration on Sunday following his inspection visit to Dr. John Garang Mausoleum, where he acquainted himself with the ongoing preparations for the graduation ceremony scheduled for 30th August 2022.
Addressing the media during President Kiir’s tour at Dr. John Garang’s Mausoleum, the Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime said that all the necessary arrangements are in place for the historic graduation.
He said the President will officiate the graduation of the over 52,000 unified forces on Tuesday, August 30th as earlier scheduled.
For his part the Minister of Presidential Affairs Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, said the President has directed that 30th August will be a public holiday and urged the citizens to attend the graduation ceremony in large numbers.
Kiir last week extended his invitations to the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed and the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to come and witness the milestone graduation ceremony of the unified forces.
Dr. Marial further stated that President Kiir will be expecting number of heads of States and governments in Juba to witness the graduation ceremony of the forces.
Meanwhile the Governor of Central Equatoria State, Emmanuel Adil Anthony added his voice to the calls for all citizens especially those in Juba to turn up in their big numbers and attend the forthcoming graduation ceremony of the unified forces at Dr. John Garang’s Mausoleum.
The Central Equatoria State Governor’s press secretary, Derick Derickson said the governor also declared Tuesday 30th-August-2022 as a public holiday in the State, meaning there will be no official work particularly for those at the National and State capital Juba on Tuesday.
He said citizens living in Juba are urged to observe the day for the graduation of the unified forces and all residents of Juba are invited to turn up in good number to witness the event.
The August 30th graduation day was declared following series of meetings held in regards to making significant footsteps to the behind schedule implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Early this Month, the unity government had announced and fixed the date for the graduation of the unified forces segmenting them into the three regions where Central Equatoria Stated emerged to be the first category to start the matriculation with a pronounced number of soldiers.
The graduation of the unified forces has been in the lips of the peace parties until it was declared during a Council of ministers meeting.
From the day of its pronouncement, preparations had been in high gear, with soldiers who had previously deserted training centers turning up in good number to their training fields for rehearsals and continuous orientation ahead of the D-day.
In a statement extended by the press office of Central Equatoria State governor, Emmanuel Adil Anthony reiterated that the public holiday shall only be observed by residents living in the County.
“As we enter into this historic moment for the inauguration or the graduation of the necessary unified forces, Emmanuel Adil Anthony the governor of Central Equatoria State has this pleasure to inform his citizens that the graduation ceremony of the unified forces is scheduled Tuesday 30th –August-2022”.
I urge all the citizens to turn up in their large numbers to come and witness this historic moment towards the implementation of the Revitalized peace agreement and on the same note, the leadership would like to take this opportunity to declare Tuesday the 30th -8-2022 as the graduation day and a public holiday to be observed by all the residents only living in Juba,” said Derick, governor’s press secretary.
He further, noted that the public holiday is only granted to Juba being the major scope of the event where the head of the state and other invited dignitaries and government officials and diplomats shall be available to witness the unified parade of the soldiers.
“The public holiday is only to the residents of Juba City and County to observe that moment of public holiday since it has been one of the significant efforts being reached by the parties to the revitalized peace agreement,” he added.