By Adia Jildo
At least 300 SSPDF soldiers on Monday left Juba international airport for DR Congo to the headquarter of the East African joint forces at Goma for the peace mission.
Last year, the president of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit flagged off over 700 soldiers as a regional contribution for peace in the region after a resolution in June from the regional leaders to send joint forces to the DR. Congo to stabilize the region.
The chief of staff said the participation of the soldiers is the region comes as the government’s commitment in the peace and stability in the region.
“We shall work hand in hand and side by side to make sure that these East African community countries are contributing regional forces to help the citizens and stabilize the security,” he continued. “Today you are going to DR. Congo, go and cooperate as we agreed with the Congolese government to contribute with the East African community region.”
He called on the soldiers to work ethnically in collaboration with the Congolese government.
“You are going in the name of the South Sudan and the flag of South Sudan and this is not the first time for South Sudan to contribute soldiers to the DR. Congo,” he said.
The representative of the Kenyan ambassador to South Sudan Grispas Obutu said the are privileged with the act of South Sudan in contribution of forces to the region.
“We really appreciate that the two countries will continue enhancing bilateral relationship,” he said.
He said that Kenya has helped facilitate the movement of South Sudanese troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We are here as a country and as a neighbor to facilitate the movement of SSPDF that is going to the East African Regional Force for peace keeping mission and we hope that all the team and the South Sudan team will under take their duties,” he said.
