SSPD CDF Gen. Santino Wol Speaks at the redeployment of NUF/Photo by Awan Moses

The leadership of the Joint Defense Board has cautioned the military personnel against associating with political parties and engaging in political activities citing their role is to protect the territorial integrity of the country.

The SSPDF chief of Defense forces says soldiers do not have any link with politics but are there to adhere to the constitution, provide security, defend the nation and its interests, and support the peace-building effort.

General Santino Deng Wol adds that the newly deployed unified forces are no longer party soldiers but the South Sudanese people’s defense forces.

General Santino made the remarks during the deployment of the first phase of the Necessary Unified Forces in Juba yesterday.

“Starting from today, let no one among you leave being a soldier and go to discuss politics so politicians are the ones ruling the country, but the role of soldiers is to provide security for the country.

“I don’t want anyone among you to be part of the party or take part in politics, there is nothing like that.”

For his part, the co-chair of the joint defense Board echoed a similar call.

Gabriel D Both directed the deployed forces to stick to their mandate including adherence to the country’s constitution.

“Soldiers do not have a tribe; our tribe is our uniform. Now if somebody comes from outside and says I want a former IO soldier or that of SSPDFor SSOA, will the person I identify you, will it be impossible,” stressing that, “our mandate as army, is protection of our border and protect the country’s constitution.”

The 2018 revitalized peace agreement obligates the unity government to train and deploy 83,000 unified forces consisting of police, wildlife, prisons, intelligence, and military officers.

But so far 53, 000 have been trained and graduated.

The deployment of the unified forces is seen as critical for the conduct of South Sudan’s first-ever elections expected to take place in December next year.

Information Minister Michael Makuei says the forces deployed will help safeguard the conduct of general elections in December next year.

“We are going for elections and so it is your responsibility a full responsibility to make sure that there is peace and security. … These are the things you we expect you to do hopefully soon,” he said.