BY PPU REPORTER
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has emphasized the need for Peace as a pre requisite for growth. He said this in the South Sudanese city, Juba, where he joined other diginitaries to witness the graduation of the 1st batch of the unified forces of the Republic of South Sudan.
Uganda is one of the guarantors of the South Sudan peace deal.
The formation of the Unified forces of South Sudan follows the Entebbe Tripartite agreement of November 2019 in which a cessation of hostilities & a transition process towards general elections within South Sudan was set in motion.
The graduation of cadets symbolises the will of the leadership and the people of South Sudan to work together in bringing stability and lasting peace.
Speaking at the graduation, President Museveni placed emphasis on the need to have peace in order to develop their country and focus on interests not identity.
“I bring solidarity and congratulations from the brotherly people of Uganda to the people of South Sudan on this landmark milestone, for working in true spirit of the African progressive forces to build the country towards sustainable development based on interests and not identity”, he said
“The four sectors for economic development are Commercial agriculture, Industry, Services and ICT, however you need Peace to achieve all that”, he further said
On his part, President Salva Kiir reminded the cadets that henceforth they are now fully integrated into one force.
“You are not a military wing of any of the parties to the conflict, you are now the first national security special organ of the republic of South Sudan and as President, I am your Commander in Chief”, he emphasized.
Other dignitaries in attendance were H.E. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the President of the Sovereign Council of Sudan who also act as the second guarantor of the Peace agreement, H.E. Dr.Riak Machar Teny, 1st Vice President of South Sudan and representatives from Egypt, Rwanda, and Ethiopia,