His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday met with the Vice President and Chairperson of the Services Cluster, H.E. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, to review progress and challenges within the cluster. The meeting afforded updates on the integration of South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) forces into the national army, the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
During the meeting, discussions centered on the ongoing implementation of security arrangements under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS). The Vice President briefed the President on preparations to complete the integration of SSOA forces into the SSPDF within the next two weeks, as part of efforts to unify command structures and strengthen national security institutions.
Speaking to the media following the meeting, Vice President Abdelbagi said the engagement provided an opportunity to align with the President, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, on the next phase of the integration process. He emphasized that the harmonization of forces remains a critical step toward consolidating peace and ensuring the stability of the transitional government.
H.E. the President also directed the Vice President to address administrative and operational challenges within the Services Cluster, particularly those affecting the welfare of civil servants. H.E. the President stressed the need to resolve delays in salary payments by coordinating with the Economic Cluster and to expedite broader public sector reforms necessary for effective government service delivery.
In a related development, President Kiir delegated Vice President Abdelbagi to represent him at the upcoming graduation ceremony of the third batch of students at Rumbek University, highlighting the government’s continued commitment to education and human capital development.
On the Whole, the meeting reaffirmed the urgency of completing the integration of unified forces as a cornerstone of the peace process, while also addressing service delivery challenges and advancing national priorities aimed at strengthening institutions and promoting long-term stability.
Credit: office of the President Republic of South Sudan
