Soldiers parade at Luri Training Center at the deployment event. November 15, 2023. (Charles Wote).

At least 3,774 troops have been deployed out of the 53,000 Necessary Unified Force (NUF) graduated in the first phase of the security arrangement, according to the national cabinet minister.

Dr. Martin Elia Lomuro said the force divided in six battalions have been posted to five locations, mostly conflict hotspot areas across South Sudan between November and December 2023.

This is just 7.1 percent of the 53,000-force trained and graduated in August 2022.

“Six Battalions have now been deployed namely 1st Battalion to Malakal (750) on the 15th of November 2023 and 2nd December 2023 respectively, 2nd Battalion to Maridi (685) on the 2nd of December 2023,” Lomuro said at the 34th monthly meeting of the peace monitoring boy – R-JMEC in Juba on Thursday.

“The 3rd Battalion to Renk (680) on the 2nd of December 2023, 4th Battalion to Wau (301) on the 2nd of December 2023, 5th Battalion to Wau (683) again on the 19th of December 2023 and 6th Battalion to Torit (680) on the 19th of December 2023.”

He added that a government team is being sent to verify a few unified forces left in Panyier and Torit, in preparation for their deployment.

Lomuro said more teams are being sent to assess the conditions of some cantonment areas in preparation for commencement of Phase-2 in few weeks to come.

According to him, peace parties that have military component agreed on the second rank of unified second for the Prisons, Wildlife, Fire bridge and the National Security on the 9th of June 2023.

But the agreement on second tier of unified Army and the Police are still outstanding, he said.