Government integrates hold-out opposition in security mechanisms

By Awan Achiek

The government said on Friday that members of the hold-out opposition parties in Nairobi will take part in the security implementation mechanisms.

Michael Makuei Lueth, The Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services, said that the inclusion of the opposition groups will speed up the work of the security sector implementation mechanisms.

“We have agreed to include them in the implementation mechanisms. We have also agreed to include them in the defense and security sector, because their forces have to be incorporated,” Makuei told journalists during press conference held in Juba.

He disclosed that they have renamed the Joint Defense Board to Joint Security Board to make it inclusive of police, prison and national security which will be in charge of the implementation of the integration, the reorganization during this transitional period.

“We are only negotiating in order to strengthen the implementation mechanisms. We have found two things in the implementation of the current agreement. One, are weak institutions for the implementation. Two is lack of funding,” Makuei said.

He said they have also agreed to form security sector reforms and an oversight commission.

Makuei added that this oversight body will comprise of security officers, retired security officers who have become experts in this particular field.

“These are the people who will oversee the implementation of this work. Once there is no movement over there, then they will be overseen and directed to act,” he said.

“This body is also answerable to another body. We found that National Transition Committee (NTC) was not delivering. So we came up with a new body in the place of NTC,” Makuei added.

He said National Implementation and Oversight Mechanism (NIOC) was set up to oversee the performance of the security sector, adding that the body will be responsible for the day-to-day activities in the implementation of the peace agreement.