Ceasefire Monitoring Body Concerned about Renewed Attacks, Recruitment by NAS of Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka
Genelaw said that “CTSAMVM received information that attacks by unknown armed groups against individuals in different communities are on the rise. and recently in Western Equatoria State, there was an attack involving the Ezo County Paramount Chief.”
The Ceasefire Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) has said it is alarmed by reports of ongoing recruitment by the rebel National Salvation Front (NAS) led by Gen. Thomas Cirillo Swaka.
Speaking during the Mechanism’s 43rd Board Meeting at Beijing Hotel in Juba on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Yitayal Gelaw Bitew, the CTSAMVM chairperson, said the ceasefire continues to hold but there has been an increase in attacks by unknown armed groups against different communities.
“CTSAMVM received information that attacks by unknown armed groups against individuals in different communities are on the rise. Recently, in Western Equatoria State, there was an attack involving the Ezo County Paramount Chief,” he said. “CTSAMVM has further noted an upsurge of activities suspected to be conducted by the National Salvation Army (NAS) around areas of Yei River County, where recruitment of youths to NAS has been reported.”
Gen. Gelaw stated that these actions could derail the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
“Additionally, suspected NAS elements ambushed a commercial vehicle at Loka Boma in Lainya County, killed its driver, and injured an SSPDF soldier who was escorting it. Such incidents affect the implementation of the ongoing peace process in South Sudan,” he said.
The Mechanism also highlighted the slow pace of the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) deployment, warning that the window for the forces to participate in the elections is closing.
“CTSAMVM has received information that two more battalions of the Necessary Unified Forces have been deployed. This is in addition to the 6 battalions (3,777 personnel) of the military as presented by the head of the secretariat of the Joint Defense Board (JDB) during the 41st CTSAMVM Board meeting on 23 April 2024. It makes a total of 8 military battalions deployed. However, other organized forces that graduated in Phase One have not yet been deployed,” Gelaw revealed. “The fate of using the Necessary Unified Forces for the anticipated general elections is narrow since deployment is slow, and the deployment of other organized forces and commencement of Phase Two training remains in balance.”
He added: “Cantonment sites and training center commanders continue to report a very challenging situation with a lack of logistical supplies.”
Gen. Gelaw also said that the Mechanism will discuss a report about a fighting incident between the bodyguards of the Unity State governor and SPLM/A-IO forces in the Jamus or Barkur area.
