S. Sudan army chief urges unified force to shun politics, tribalism

November 5, 2022 (WAU) – The chief of South Sudan Peoples’ Defense Forces (SSPDF), Gen. Santino Wol Deng has warned the necessary unified forces over involvement in politics and tribalism.

He was speaking at the graduation of over 13,000 forces in Wau on Friday.

“You have to be out of politics. There is a difference between soldiers and politicians. You cannot serve two masters at ago,” said Wol, warning against tribalism practices.

He said the graduated forces would improve the security situation in the country.

“We need the security of South Sudan to be stable so that citizens in Greater Bahr el Ghazal, Greater Equtoria and Greater Upper Nile regions who are still in protection camps can return to their respective homes in peace,” Wol told the graduating forces.

For his part, South Sudan presidential advisor on security affairs, Tut Gatkuak Manime congratulated members of the necessary unified forces for completing military training.

He urged the forces to maintain discipline and protect the country’s sovereignty.

“You are going to defend the constitution and the citizens of South Sudan. We are together with you in any location where you will be deployed,” stressed Manime.

South Sudan, according to the 2018 peace deal, is to train and graduate a unified force of 83,000 personnel to take charge of security during its transitional period.

(ST)