NUF soldiers during their graduation on 30 August. (AFP via Getty Images)

South Sudan held the first graduation ceremony on 30 August for the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) that are being formed by retraining rebel and pro-government fighters into military, police, and security personnel.

In his speech, President Salva Kiir said the NUF programme was the “most challenging and yet the most important” part of the peace agreement signed in September 2018. He said that ultimately 52,000 personnel would graduate in phases from the training centres spread across the country, with the first coming from Greater Equatoria province.

It was reported that the graduation involved a total of 21,973 personnel: 3,308 for the VIP protection force of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), 4,366 for the national police, 6,315 for the National Security Service, 1,120 for the Prison Service, 3,575 for the Wildlife Service, and 3,289 for the Civil Defence Force.

NUF soldiers during their graduation on 30 August. (AFP via Getty Images)

South Sudan held the first graduation ceremony on 30 August for the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) that are being formed by retraining rebel and pro-government fighters into military, police, and security personnel.

In his speech, President Salva Kiir said the NUF programme was the “most challenging and yet the most important” part of the peace agreement signed in September 2018. He said that ultimately 52,000 personnel would graduate in phases from the training centres spread across the country, with the first coming from Greater Equatoria province.

It was reported that the graduation involved a total of 21,973 personnel: 3,308 for the VIP protection force of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), 4,366 for the national police, 6,315 for the National Security Service, 1,120 for the Prison Service, 3,575 for the Wildlife Service, and 3,289 for the Civil Defence Force.

NUF soldiers during their graduation on 30 August. (AFP via Getty Images)

South Sudan held the first graduation ceremony on 30 August for the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) that are being formed by retraining rebel and pro-government fighters into military, police, and security personnel.

In his speech, President Salva Kiir said the NUF programme was the “most challenging and yet the most important” part of the peace agreement signed in September 2018. He said that ultimately 52,000 personnel would graduate in phases from the training centres spread across the country, with the first coming from Greater Equatoria province.

It was reported that the graduation involved a total of 21,973 personnel: 3,308 for the VIP protection force of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), 4,366 for the national police, 6,315 for the National Security Service, 1,120 for the Prison Service, 3,575 for the Wildlife Service, and 3,289 for the Civil Defence Force.

NUF soldiers during their graduation on 30 August. (AFP via Getty Images)

South Sudan held the first graduation ceremony on 30 August for the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) that are being formed by retraining rebel and pro-government fighters into military, police, and security personnel.

In his speech, President Salva Kiir said the NUF programme was the “most challenging and yet the most important” part of the peace agreement signed in September 2018. He said that ultimately 52,000 personnel would graduate in phases from the training centres spread across the country, with the first coming from Greater Equatoria province.

It was reported that the graduation involved a total of 21,973 personnel: 3,308 for the VIP protection force of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), 4,366 for the national police, 6,315 for the National Security Service, 1,120 for the Prison Service, 3,575 for the Wildlife Service, and 3,289 for the Civil Defence Force.

NUF soldiers during their graduation on 30 August. (AFP via Getty Images)

South Sudan held the first graduation ceremony on 30 August for the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) that are being formed by retraining rebel and pro-government fighters into military, police, and security personnel.

In his speech, President Salva Kiir said the NUF programme was the “most challenging and yet the most important” part of the peace agreement signed in September 2018. He said that ultimately 52,000 personnel would graduate in phases from the training centres spread across the country, with the first coming from Greater Equatoria province.

It was reported that the graduation involved a total of 21,973 personnel: 3,308 for the VIP protection force of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), 4,366 for the national police, 6,315 for the National Security Service, 1,120 for the Prison Service, 3,575 for the Wildlife Service, and 3,289 for the Civil Defence Force.

NUF soldiers during their graduation on 30 August. (AFP via Getty Images)

South Sudan held the first graduation ceremony on 30 August for the Necessary Unified Forces (NUF) that are being formed by retraining rebel and pro-government fighters into military, police, and security personnel.

In his speech, President Salva Kiir said the NUF programme was the “most challenging and yet the most important” part of the peace agreement signed in September 2018. He said that ultimately 52,000 personnel would graduate in phases from the training centres spread across the country, with the first coming from Greater Equatoria province.

It was reported that the graduation involved a total of 21,973 personnel: 3,308 for the VIP protection force of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF), 4,366 for the national police, 6,315 for the National Security Service, 1,120 for the Prison Service, 3,575 for the Wildlife Service, and 3,289 for the Civil Defence Force.