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

South Sudan peace parties on Wednesday kicked off the milestone deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) as dozens of river boats and vehicles dispatch troops to different deployment centers.

A battalion of about 750 soldiers including 10 female combatants were ferried to Upper Nile’s capital Malakal, following a deployment ceremony held at the Luri Training Center, west of Juba.

They are part of the over 53,000 graduated unified forces.

Tut Gatluak, the Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs and Chair of the Joint Defense Board, said President Kiir ordered the deployment.

He said that the battalion are being deployed to Malakal while others head to the Bahr el Ghazal region.

He added that some forces will be brought from the Bahr el Ghazal region to the capital Juba.

“The President of the Republic is the one who ordered and decided for us to deploy these forces who graduated and to be deployed in the different military divisions. That is order of the President and Presidency,” Gatluak said at a deployment ceremony in Luri on Wednesday.

“Today we are celebrating the first battalion that is going to Malakal, and there’s another battalion going to Northern Bahr el ghazal, and at the same time vehicles that going to Bahr el Ghazal will bring new soldiers from Bahr el Ghazal to Juba.”

“Also, these boats that are going to Malakal will bring soldiers to Juba so that we can finish the deployment of those who are in the training centers.”

On her part, Interior Minister Angelina Teny described the deployed soldiers as an example and ideal for a new national army.

“You’re an example, and ideal for the new South Sudan national army, that can bring peace and stability of peace in this country and can get away all these issues we are facing,” Angelina said.

“Your role is clear about defending this country and its people and the dignity of its people, sometimes you can be called for a different mission, if the police have a lot of pressure and need support, they can call you.”

“Only make sure to protect this country, and the safety of the citizens will be easy for the police when you protect the territorial integrity of this country.”

Under the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, the transitional government is supposed to train and deploy 83,000 unified forces consisting of police, wildlife, prisons, intelligence and military officers.

So far, only 53,000 have been trained and graduated.

The deployment of the unified forces is critical for the conduct of South Sudan’s first ever elections due in December 2024.