By Tereza Jeremiah Chuei
The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang said preparation is now in top gear to dispatch the SSPDF unified forces on a mission to quell conflict in the restive Western Bank of Upper Nile State that’s witnessing violence which has led to the displacement of thousands of civilians to IDP camps and killing of scores.
This new development comes following the recent directives given by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Santino Deng Wol to send forces to quell the Upper Nile war.
Speaking to No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper yesterday Maj. Gen Lul Ruai said that “the process of translating the political statement to military action and drawing of operation plan has started” said Lul.
He added that the forces are only waiting for the logistical facilitation, for them to be deployed to the war-ravaged areas of northern Upper Nile State’s western bank of the Nile.
Speaking on Thursday during the opening of 8th unified command council conference in SSPDF General Headquarters Bilpalm President Kiir called on the organized forces to defend the country from Internal and External aggression.
He acknowledged that the Country is being derailed by inter and intra-communal violence.
“While your key mandate is the defense of South Sudan’s territory, its people and their properties, we are today faced with security threats of different forms. We have Inter and Intra communal violence, cattle rustling, road ambushes and urban violence, all these pose ambushes and security threats to our people. And they require you in military Leadership to be in State of operational readiness to assist other organized forces tackled this when called upon” President Kiir commanded.
He presided over the opening of the 8th command council conference of the Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF) to deliberate on a number of strategic objectives, including reviewing the progress in the implementation of the security arrangement as well as recommending the SSPDF transition into a professional and conventional defense institution.
President Kiir instructed the military leadership to streamline the deployment of the necessary Unified Forces from the training centres.