By Yien Gattuor Mead
Government is on top gear to graduate yet another 7,500 part, of the first batch of Necessary Unified Forces from Moum training center in Bentiu of Unity State today.
In an exclusive interview with No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper, Maj-Gen William Manyang Magak announced that the much-awaited graduation of about 7,500 NUF is set to take place today (November 10), and urged forces to report back to the training center.
According to him, the graduation of the NUF will not be carried out at same time but in phases due to floods that have made some roads in southern part of Unity state inaccessible.
“This graduation will be only for those [forces] that are in Moum training center to report themselves within remaining hours,” Maj-Gen Magak told No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper reporter in Bentiu.
Maj-Gen Magak also stated that the police and military uniforms for forces that are based in Kerjack center will arrive this week, and probably they will be passed out on their graduation between Monday 14th or 15th November next week.
He hinted that a high government delegation led by presidential advisor, Tut Gatluak Manime, minister of Defense, Angelia Teny and SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces, General Santino Deng Wol are expected to witness the graduation.
“Our high officials will come from Juba tomorrow to Leer town but I don’t know who will lead the graduation, may be will it be led by the presidential advisor Tut Gatluak Manime, national Minister for Defense and the Chief of General staff,” he assumed.
The senior military commander echoed that most of the forces have already received their uniforms, and those who have not received are the forces based in Kerjack but they are slated to get their uniform next week.
Presently, over 26,000 unified forces most from the Equatoria region have graduated and they are awaiting deployment.
Under chapter two of the 2018 security arrangement protocol, there shall be 83,000 necessary unified forces charged with maintaining the security during the ongoing transitional period.
However, due to delays, the peace parties in early August, 2022 agreed to extend the transitional government for another 24 months in order to complete the outstanding tasks.
According to the roadmap, redeployment of the first batch shall be completed on November 30, 2022, as well as the beginning of the second batch training.