Necessary Unified Forces pictured during the graduation parade at John Garang Mausoleum. | 30th August 2022. | Photo: Lou Nelson.

The Minister of Peace-building says the unity government is expediting the deployment of the necessary unified forces to some restive regions in the country.

Stephen Par Kuol says some of the troops have already been deployed to maintain security in Warrap and Upper Nile.

Speaking to Eye Radio on Wednesday, Phar reiterated the government’s commitment to speed up the full deployment of the forces in some parts of the country.

Minister Phar, who is also the Secretary-General of the National Transitional Committee – said the government is also working on the training and graduation of the second batch.

“We are expediting it, also in my capacity as the NTC Secretary-General, under the leadership of Hon. Tut Gatluak, we are speeding up not only the unification of the middle command, but also phase two, the training process, unification of forces, and deployment.”

“You cannot give it a date, because the process started, and they will be deployed. We have done part of it in Malakal, we have sent some of the forces to Warap, it is an ongoing process it will not happen in one day.”

In October last year, the SSPDF command deployed unspecified number of troops to the Warrap-Abyei border following deadly inter-communal fighting.

Also in December 2022, a joint military operation comprising SSPDF infantry and riverine forces were sent to deter armed militia groups in the Chollo Kingdom.

The 2018 revitalized peace deal expects the unity government to graduate 83,000 unified forces drawn from the various parties to take charge of security during the ongoing transitional period.