South Sudan Army Training-SPLA

With an eye to serving at UN missions worldwide, 13 South Sudanese military officers graduated in Juba (29 July) from a two-week course in peacekeeping operations. The UNMISS-sponsored course covered such topics as human rights, observer and liaison duties, radio communication, sexual exploitation and abuse and protection of civilians. Raisedon Zenenga DSRSG, stressed that close collaboration between UNMISS and the SPLA was critical for the mission to carry out its work and the SPLA to protect the country's territory and people. Zenenga also told the soldiers "Your training is an important aspect of our efforts to help strengthen our engagement with the SPLA." Also addressing the gathering, UNMISS Force Commander Major General Delali Johnson Sakyi praised the officers for their efforts during the workshop. Lt Gen Thomas Cirillo Swaka, SPLA Deputy Chief of Staff Training, stressed that participant interest in the course should tell the UN that they were "thinking about the peace of their country". Zenenga also stressed that close collaboration between UNMISS and the SPLA was critical for the mission to carry out its work and the SPLA to protect the country's territory and people. Cooperation especially vital in mission support for mitigating conflict, protecting civilians, establishing rule of law and strengthening the security and justice sectors, and investigating human rights.