Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

(For Immediate Publication)

Tuesday, 8 September 2020, Juba, South Sudan

RJMEC INTERIM CHAIR ADDRESSES TROOPS IN MAPEL TRAINING CENTRE, WESTERN BAHR EL GHAZAL: “LET US SEE YOU DEVELOPING THAT SPIRIT OF HONOUR, THE SPIRIT OF DUTY, THE SPIRIT OF COUNTRY.”

On 7 September 2020, the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), Major General Charles Tai Gituai, accompanied the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, H.E. Angelina Teny, and the Governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal, H.E. Sarah Cleto Rial, on a visit to Mapel training centre in the state of Western Bahr el Ghazal. The high-level delegation paid the visit to the centre and gathered dignitaries to gain a clearer picture of progress in the unification of forces.  

Addressing some 2000 gathered troops, General Gituai said: “I have been wearing that uniform for 41 years… and when I came here I saw you, I’m reminded of the old days when I was a young person like yourselves. And, it is a great honour for me to be able to address you.” 

He explained: “One of the requirements for the implementation of the Agreement is the unification of the necessary forces… It is critical to have a unified force because a unified force signifies unification of a defence force which will be like any other military in the world.

Drawing on his long military career, General Gituai continued: “The most critical issue of training in my view for unification is character development… character development goes with the way you conduct yourself, (…) the issues of human rights, understanding issues of discipline and respect, and that spirit I am seeing here of camaraderie."

He explained: “A unified force is a guarantor of security of the country… a unified force is a guarantor of security of the people of South Sudan, and all over the world, even where I come from, militaries are the unifying factors in everything because it’s only the military where you find your brother does not necessarily come from your village…   your brother soldier, the soldier next to you, is your brother, he is the one who will save you."

General Gituai closed his remarks in urging the troops: “Let us see that coming up. Let us see you developing that spirit of honour, the spirit of duty, the spirit of country.”

[ENDS]