South Sudan has secured funds for the formation of the unified force paving the way for progress in the delayed implementation of the security arrangements.

On Wednesday 15 December, UN Special Representative in South Sudan Nicholas Haysom briefed the Security Council on the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.

He said he had discussed with President Salva Kiir on 8 December the slow implementation of the security arrangement and the costly formation of the unified forces, the nucleus of the national army.

“I am happy to announce that after our meeting, the Joint Defence Board announced some progress on the Implementation of the transitional security arrangements,” he said.

“Funds have now been released to the Joint Defence Board for screening soldiers at Training Centres preliminary to graduation of unified forces. Delivery of food and medicines has also commenced,” he added.

According to the revitalized peace pact, the JDB, which consists of the Chiefs of Staff and Directors General of National Security Service, Police, and all other organized forces, command and control over all forces during the Pre-Transitional Period.

He added that the ongoing efforts by Sudan to reach a compromise between the peace partners on command ratios of the new national army have been undermined by the political crisis in Sudan.

Also, the Sudanese crisis has delayed the settlement of the split SPLM/A-IO Kitgwang faction.

In November, President Kiir proposed to transfer the talks with the Kitgwang faction but the leaders of the breakaway group who are based in Khartoum declined the offer.