Peace monitor calls for deployment of unified forces to curb communal violence

The Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) on Thursday called for the urgent deployment of the recently graduated unified forces to prevent inter-communal clashes and deadly cattle raids.

Gen. Charles Tai Gituai, head of the peace monitoring body called on the transitional government to deploy peace forces to hot-spot areas to provide security to civilians.

“I recommend the RTGoNU to harmonize the ranks of the unified forces, and provide for their welfare so that they can be deployed to provide security and protection of civilians caught up in sub-national violence,” said Gituai during RJMEC monthly meeting held in Juba.

The government has since August graduated 52,000 police, army, intelligence services, and prison services officers. In total the government is supposed to graduate 83,000 unified forces to take charge of security during the transition period.

Gituai appealed to the government to commence the second phase of unified forces which he said is behind schedule.

“I recommend RTGoNU to commence phase 2 of the unification of forces without further delay, and provided adequate resources to security mechanisms and cantonment sites and training centers,” he said.

Gituai also called on the government to urgently provide material and financial resources for the second phase of training.

“Learning from the experience of phase 1, it is important that RTGoNU provides adequate material and financial resources so that the security mechanism can accomplish their tasks in a timely manner,” he said.

“As the process of unification of forces moves forward into phase 2, another area that needs particular attention is the collection, registration, and storage of weapons and munitions,” he added.

Several reports have indicated that different inter-communal clashes, cattle-related violence, and road attacks in most parts of the country were threatening the 2018 peace agreement.