JUBA, 15 December 2022(Office of the President)-President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Thursday closed the 8th Command Council Conference of the South Sudan people’s Defence Force (SSPDF) held under the theme, SSPDF building trust, understanding and Implementing the transitional Security Arrangement.
The Command Council deliberated on the progress of the implementation of the security arrangement.
In his keynote address, President Kiir urged the organized forces to execute their orders including the encouragement of positive international investment in the country.
“Let us all avoid going back to war, we are citizens of this country, all of us have a right to live, so let us avoid senseless war. You must stop war since war is destructive but peace brings foreign investors to invest in the country”. The President shared that war and conflict must be avoided, and that fighting one another is meaningless and will halt any chances of development and disrupt the progress that we have made as a nation.
“We need development, we need schools, hospitals and roads.” President Kiir reiterated.
The President also called on those who have taken arms to come back and dialogue with the Government to resolve their grievances.
“To some of our brothers who are still in the bush, come back home and join the Government so that we can bring a sustainable peace in our country. I urge you to put down your guns and resume dialogue on peace”
The President of the Republic reminded the attendees that the agreement on the extension of the Roadmap for an additional 24 months was reached “so that we can accomplish outstanding tasks in the implementation of the peace agreement. We do not want people to descend into war during elections.”
He added that the work that has begun on making connections on major roads such as Juba-Bor, Bor-Ayod, Akobo, and now Terkeka-Rumbek are great signs of the development and accessibility.
“We are about to open Juba-Bor road and we are going to launch the road construction of Bor to Ayod, Akobo respectively. All these areas of South Sudan, we need to connect them with good roads.”
The Minister of National Security, Gen. Obote Mamur urged the army to shun dirty politics and embrace the spirt of nationalism.
“You are not an army of individuals; you are an army of the Republic of South Sudan and a symbol of our flag. And as an army, we need your protection to defend our sovereign territory, and to protect our President and the people of South Sudan” Obote Mamur noted.
President Kiir promised to review the resolutions and recommendations made by the command council before approval and consideration.
Via PPU