South Sudan: Cabinet approves SSP3.67billion for deployment of unified forces in the country

Report from Radio Tamazuj

Dated Sunday 14 May 2023 - full copy:

Cabinet approves SSP3.67billion for deployment of unified forces

Necessary Unified Forces graduate in Unity State on 14 January 2023. [Photo: Radio Tamazuj]

(JUBA) - South Sudan’s Council of Ministers on Friday approved 3.6 billion South Sudanese Pounds (SSP) for the deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces in the country.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Information Minister Michael Makuei said the Minister for Peacebuilding Stephen Par Kuol presented a budget of SSP3,671,588,100 to the cabinet for buying food and other arrangements for the deployment of the unified forces in Phase One.

Makuei, who is also the government spokesman, said that after listening to the budget presented by the peacebuilding minister, the proposal was referred to the Ministry of Finance for inclusion in the 2023/2024 proposed fiscal year budget.

“So this budget, after a thorough deliberation it, was passed, and the part of the budget which is in phase two was passed to the minister of finance for inclusion in the budget, which is under process, so the cabinet passed a sum of 3,671,588,100 SSP. This is the budget which is allocated for the current forces who were already graduated and are still in the training centres. This is the money that will be used for their deployment and all the other necessary arrangement so that the centres are emptied and phase two of the plan can start,” Makuei explained.

In August 2022, South Sudan graduated its first group of unified armed forces from former rival groups as per the 2018 peace agreement. The goal is to graduate 83,000.

Apart from logistical matters, a disagreement among the peace parties over the middle command structure is also delaying the deployment of the unified forces.

President Salva Kiir, First Vice President Riek Machar and other political leaders have been slowly implementing a peace deal signed in 2018 to end five years of civil war. The parties to the agreement further delayed the transition period leading to the country’s first elections until December 2024.

The first batch of the unified forces graduated without firearms, with the government blaming the arms embargo on South Sudan imposed by the United Nations Security Council. They carried wooden guns instead.

View original: https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/cabinet-approves-ssp3-67billion-for-deployment-of-unified-forces

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S. Sudan: Govt forces kill 7 rebels, capture 34

Article from and by Radio Tamazuj.org

Dated Sunday 01 September 2019

7 rebels killed, 34 captured in Raja fighting: government

Government forces killed seven rebel fighters loyal to Gen. Paul Malong and captured 34 others during fighting in Lol State on Tuesday and Wednesday, a local official said.

The State information minister Anei Anei told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that 18 rebel forces affiliated to South Sudan United Front/Army (SUF/A) were captured after they launched an attack on government troops at the Khor Shamam area of Greater Raja County on Tuesday.

He added that five rebel soldiers were also killed during fighting.

Anei further said government forces launched another attack to hunt down the rebels on Wednesday during which two rebel soldiers were killed and 16 others were captured in the battle.

There were no casualties from the government side, he added.

On his part, the SSUF/A spokesman said he was unaware of the clashes.

Gen. Malong's group is not part of the peace deal signed in September 2018.

View original article here:  https://radiotamazuj.org/en/news/article/7-rebels-killed-34-captured-in-raja-fighting-government