By Bosco Bush
The fate of using Necessary Unified Forces for the anticipated general elections is narrow since deployment is at a slow pace, Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) said.
In its 43rd Board Meeting held in Juba on July 2, 2024, CTSAMVM noted that only 8 out of the expected NUF battalions have been deployed so far, despite the National Unity Government having graduated at least 53,000 forces in August 2022.
It said this represents just 10% of the total forces that have been deployed.
“Since the last board meeting, CTSAMVM has received information that two more battalions of the Necessary Unified Forces have deployed. This is in addition to the 6 battalions (3,777 personnel) of the military as presented by the Head Secretariat of the Joint Defence Board during the 41st CTSAMVM Board meeting on April 23, 2024.”
“It makes a total of 8 Military Battalions deployed. Other organized forces that graduated in Phase One have not yet been deployed. The fate of using the Necessary Unified Forces for the anticipated general elections is narrow since deployment is at a slow pace,” it stated.
The 2018 peace deal mandated the parties to the agreement to canton, train and redeploy the NUF prior to the end of the transitional period.
However, CTSAMVM reported that the deployment of other organized forces and the commencement of Phase Two training remains in limbo, with “Cantonment Sites and Training Centers Commanders continue to report a very challenging situation with a lack of logistical supplies.”
CTSAMVM called for concerted efforts and support from stakeholders to achieve the desired objective of ensuring a faithful and comprehensive implementation of the security arrangements under Chapter Two of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS).
The slow pace of NUF deployment raises concerns about the ability to provide adequate security for the upcoming general elections, which are seen as a crucial step in the fragile peace process.
CTSAMVM is the body responsible for overseeing security during the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.