National, News

A call for clear data on deployed forces deepens

By William Madouk

 

The Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) wades into calling for the government to show clear data on deployment of Necessary Unified forces. 

CTSAMVM chairperson, Maj. Gen. Yitayal Bitew noted that ceasefire monitoring body has not yet receive any update on deployed forces, saying, government should endeavour to give correct figure.

“It is imperative that we get correct details as contradicting figures are being presented by government entities other than what is known by CTSAMVM,” he said during the CTC meeting on Thursday

Besides, CTC boss rued over the insistent occupation of civilian buildings by Signatory Parties to the Agreement, which according to him is still a haunting demeanour.

“On a good note, two occupied civilian areas in Sector Two have been confirmed as vacated. This is commendable,” he remarked.

He further urged SSPDF to vacate the remaining seven areas and called on the Joint Defence Board to deploy the Necessary Unified Forces who are occupying some of the areas to appropriate places so as not to violate the very R-ARCSS that created their existence.

On May this year, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) urged the government to give a clear data on the figure of deployed forces under Phase 1 of the Security Arrangements.

The interim chairperson of RJMEC, Maj. Gen. (rtd) Charles Gituai, appealed to the Joint Défense Board (JDB) citing confusion over the numbers.

“There has been conflicting data on the number of unified forces deployed under Phase 1. In this regard, JDB is requested to update this plenary on the actual number of deployed unified forces and progress towards phase II,” he appealed.

However, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr Elia Lomuro, lashed out at some unnamed institutions for giving conflicting and inaccurate figures on the graduation and deployment of the forces.

“The official record from the National Transitional Committee (NTC) is, a total of 55,958 combatants in Phase 1 of the Security Arrangements; these are apportioned: 15, 150 Army, 3,380 VIP protection, 15,178 South Sudan National Police (SSNP), 4,069 Correctional Service (Prison), 5,605 Civil defence, 6261 Wildlife Service, and 6,315 National Security,” Lomuro stated.

“It is very important that institutions, agencies, or partners refrain from using unofficial sources of information because that causes confusion. Some even went as far as erroneously publicizing that only 6 per cent of the graduated forces were deployed,” he added.

According to Dr Lomuro, the “graduation of any security force is symbolic; the deployment of any security force is classified, and that must be taken into account by those writing reports on the implementation of the A-ARCSS.”

He also noted that the parties to the R-ARCSS that have a military component agreed on the structure of the second echelon of the unified prisons, wildlife, fire bridge, and national security on June 9, last year.

“Approximately 90 per cent of the Army has been deployed; the few remaining are now ready for deployment upon the commencement of Phase 2. The first battalion deployed to Greater Equatoria, the second battalion to Greater Bahr-El-Ghazal, and the third battalion to Greater Upper Nile,” he continued.

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