South Sudan’s newly appointed Chief of Defence Forces has urged former opposition-aligned forces that abandoned rebellion and pledged allegiance to the government to remain on standby for possible reorganization and integration into the army.
In a Monday statement issued by the Office of the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Santino Deng Wol said the groups, which have not yet been integrated into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces and other organized forces, should await further instructions on reporting to designated training centres for integration and restructuring.
He said the affected forces include the Agwelek Forces under Lt. Gen. Johnson Olong in Malakal, Lou Nuer groups under Lt. Gen. Deng Yiech Thanyipin, Maj. Gen. Mabor Dhol, and Maj. Gen. Michael Wal Nyak.
Others include Maj. Gen. Kiir Jok, forces under Maj. Gen. Lual Yor in Molbok, forces under Maj. Gen. Deng Awuk Abuok in Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria-based groups in Yei, Maridi, Koda and Mundri, and forces under Gen. Simon Maguek Gai in Unity State’s Leer County.
“All the above-mentioned groups are urged to remain on standby pending further directives,” the statement said, adding that South Sudan belongs to all its citizens and there is room for everyone in building a peaceful, united and prosperous nation.
It called on the groups to embrace peace, unity and development instead of violence and conflict.
Copies of the directive were distributed to senior military and security officials, including the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces for Operations, the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces for Administration, Personnel and Finance, and the Ground Force Commander.
Under the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, various armed forces were expected to be unified into a single national army as part of wider security arrangements aimed at consolidating stability in South Sudan.
However, key provisions on security sector reforms and force integration have not been fully implemented, leaving multiple armed groups and opposition-aligned forces still operating outside a unified command structure.
The SSPDF and the SPLA-IO have been engaged in renewed fighting since December in several areas, particularly in parts of the Upper Nile region, complicating efforts to implement the peace agreement’s security arrangements.
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