Opposition leader urges parties with forces to resolve issue of unified command

By Simon Deng

The Chairperson for South Sudan National Movement for Change, Moro Isaac Jenesio said his party endorse the main signatory parties to adopt a strategy for immediate unification of forces under a unified command.

“The existence   of several forces under diverse command and control continue to pose a great challenge to peaceful elections and transition in South Sudan. The SSNMC recommend that parties with forces should dialogue and adopt a strategy for immediate unification of all forces under a unified command,” said Jenesio on Sunday in a statement issued in Juba.

Jenesio said the revitalized roadmap which was a commitment by the parties to complete the critical tasks within two years is drawing to an end with parties at crossroad between elections as stipulated or extension.

Jenesio also said that all forces under individual command and control should be handed over to the National Transitional Committee headed by Tut Galuak, the Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs, adding that these forces should be handed over to the general command after being graduated.

“The unification of the SPLM (SPLM and SPLM-IO) will have a great bearing on the narrative of peace and ending of the transitional period.it is crucial for the SPLM factions to realize that their unification will minimize violence leading to peaceful election and transition in South Sudan,” he said.

In August 2022, the transitional government graduated 52,000 Necessary Unified forces out of the expected 83,000 consisting mainly of National Security, Police and the Army to take charge of security across the country as provided for in the peace agreement.