September 1, 2022 (Djibouti, Djibouti): The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) wishes to congratulate the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU) on the occasion of the graduation of more than 22,000 members of the National Unified Forces (NUF). The members drawn from the VIP Protection Force and the National Civil Defence, Police, Prison, Security and Wildlife Services, were the first batch of Phase 1 of the unification process.
The graduation of the NUF marks the implementation of the long outstanding crucial provisions of Chapter 2 of the R-ARCSS, agreement provisions that are hinged on the transformation of the Security Sector, and which is the cornerstone of the Revitalised Peace Accord. The full implementation of Chapter 2, in letter and spirit, will create the enabling environment necessary for the implementation of the remaining Chapters of the R-ARCSS. It is also a manifestation of the confidence and trust that is developing among the Peace Partners. The end result will be a peaceful transition to free, fair, credible and democratic elections at the end of the Transitional Period that is reflective of the will of the people of South Sudan.
The momentous event comes against the backdrop of the recent collegial Agreement on the Roadmap to a Peaceful and Democratic end of the Transitional Period of the R-ARCSS, which extended the Transitional Period by 24 months, beginning from the end of the current Transitional Period on 22nd February 2023. This is a clear testament of the political will, commitment and cooperation of the Parties required for the implementation of the R-ARCSS. It is the conviction of IGAD that the spirit of consultations and compromises demonstrated will be the main impetus towards R-TGoNU graduating the remaining batch of Phase 1 of the unification process and completing all the ongoing and outstanding tasks of the R-ARCSS.
IGAD stands ready to avail the necessary political and technical support towards full implementation of the R-ARCSS and calls upon all Partners from the Region and beyond to provide the required support to R-TGoNU in the implementation of the R-ARCSS. IGAD finally reiterates that it is crucial, at this time and space, for all Peace Partners and Friends of South Sudan to work with one common voice towards providing the moral and material support that this young country needs in its path towards earnest post-conflict reconstruction and development.
