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Burhan pledges continued support for South Sudan peace process

Abdel-Fattah-al-Burhan

August 30, 2022 (JUBA) – The head of Sudan’s Sovereign Council, Gen Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has pledged continued support to South Sudan’s peace process.

He was speaking at Tuesday’s graduation of 21,000 members of the necessary unified forces to form a unified national army, police and other security forces.

“We stand with the people of South Sudan in which situation you face, we stand side by side in the quest and in our efforts to have peace and stability between our people. This is our conviction as we all stand shoulder to shoulder with you and the region to make our contribution to making peace, promote economically and establishing strong relations for the benefits of our people,” explained Burhan.

The graduation of the first batch of forces was initially planned for August 2021.

Sudan and Uganda are guarantors of South Sudan’s revitalised peace agreement.

Of the 21,973 unified forces graduated, 3,308 personnel will be dedicated to providing protection senior government officials; 4,366 into the unified South Sudan National Police Service; 6,315 will be integrated into the unified National Security Service; 1,120 into a unified National Prison Service; 3,575 into the unified National Wildlife Service and 3,289 into unified National Civil Defense Service.

Burhan said Sudan would train South Sudanese security forces into a professional army capable of safeguarding and protecting the country’s territorial integrity.

For his part, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom congratulated the parties and the transitional government for reaching this critical step, which is a notable political and security development. 

It is critically important to have a unified and inclusive defence apparatus that is open to all South Sudanese, especially in a country recovering from divisive conflict,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan.

He added, “Today’s event should constitute more than a symbolic act, and could be an active contributor to national peace”.

Haysom described the event as a “cornerstone” upon which further meaningful steps can now be taken, including a broader security sector transformation process, nation building, and sustainable development.

“This graduation will strengthen the capacity of the Transitional Government to protect its own citizens by curtailing subnational and intercommunal violence, and demonstrate South Sudan’s respect for human rights by enhancing accountability, and also guarantee the territorial integrity of the country,” he said.

The top UN official further said the mission now expects the necessary unified forces to play a critical role in meeting security and logistical needs, necessary for legitimate and credible elections, as provided for in the peace agreement.

“In this way, the NUF [Necessary Unified Forces] could also play an indispensable role in building democracy,” stressed Haysom.

He further added, “UNMISS remains committed to the full implementation of the peace agreement including training, technical and logistic support, together with regional partners and the international community”.

The September 2018 revitalised peace agreement requires the parties to train and graduate a unified force of 83,000 personnel to take charge of security during the transitional period.

(ST)