24/12/2025
23rd December 2025
Official Statement on the Status of SSPMA Forces Following the Unification Process
The South Sudan Patriotic Movement/Army (SSPM/A) issues this official statement in response to the public statement made by Hussein Abdelbagi on 22 December 2025, in which he falsely claimed that he had handed over 3,700 SSPM/A forces to the Government of the Republic of South Sudan.
This statement is intended to correct the record, uphold the integrity of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS ) signed on the 19th Sept 2018, and prevent the spread of deliberate misinformation regarding the status of SSPM/A forces.
1. Cantonment, Registration, and Screening
a. Pantiit Assembly Area / Training Centre
Pantiit was initially established by the JMCC as an assembly area for SSOA forces and was later designated by the JTSC as a training centre. The forces assembled there, approximately one battalion, predominantly SSPM/A, had already handed over their weapons and ammunition to the Division Commander of the Third Division at Wunyiik Military Base prior to training, in full compliance with security arrangements procedures.
b. Masana Bira Training Centre
Masana Bira was established by the JTSC as a training centre for Other Organized Forces, including Police, Correctional Services (Prisons), Wildlife, and Civil Defense. Approximately three battalions of SSOA forces, the majority of whom were SSPM/A, were trained at this centre.
2. Training and Graduation of Unified Forces
• The first graduation of the National Unified Forces (NUF) in Greater Equatoria was conducted under the auspices of H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan. A total of 53,000 forces—from SSPDF, SPLM/A-IO, and SSOA—successfully graduated on 30th August 2022.
• During the ceremony, the President formally declared all graduated personnel to be unified national forces, placed under his direct command as Commander-in-Chief and Supreme Commander, in the presence of regional leaders, guarantors, and the international community.
• A subsequent graduation for forces trained at Masana Bira, Pantiit, and Mapel was conducted in Wau on 29 November 2022, under the auspices of Hon. Tut Gatluak, Presidential Security Advisor and Chairperson of the National Transitional Committee (NTC).
3. Deployment Status of SSPM/A under National Unified Forces
• One battalion of SSOA (Army) forces, from the rank of Colonel downwards, was formally deployed across various locations in South Sudan under SSPDF general command following successful training. These forces are receiving monthly salaries and are awaiting formal commissioning and confirmation by the President and Commander-in-Chief.
• NSS Non-Commissioned Officers trained at the Muni Training Centre have been deployed nationwide and are currently receiving their salaries.
• NSS officers trained at Dr. John Garang Memorial Military College (Agut-Makur) remain in the pipeline, awaiting official commissioning and confirmation.
• Senior army officers, from Brigadier General to Major General, are similarly awaiting formal commissioning and confirmation by the President and Commander-in-Chief.
4. Other Organized Forces Awaiting Commissioning
• Remaining Other Organized Forces at Masana Bira Training Centre remain under the authority of the JTSC, pending commissioning and deployment.
• In Greater Equatoria, approximately 500 trainees at Rajaf Police Academy remain under JTSC supervision, awaiting commissioning and deployment.
In light of the above established facts, the SSPM/A states the following without ambiguity:
1. Hussein Abdelbagi was never the Commander-in-Chief of SSPM/A forces. He was dismissed from the party on 20 February 2025 for insubordination and for attempting a coup to undermine the party leadership of Dr. Costello Garang Ring Lual, Chairman of the SSPM/A.
2. The claim that Hussein Abdelbagi handed over 3,700 SSPM/A forces is false, baseless, and institutionally invalid. If Hussein Abdelbagi stands by his claim, he should publicly assemble the alleged forces in a formal military parade for verification by the public, the security institutions, and the R-ARCSS mechanisms.
3. SSPM/A forces have already completed the unification process in strict accordance with Chapter II of the R-ARCSS, a fact well documented within the Security Arrangements Mechanisms.
4. No military force can be handed over through press statements, paperwork, or a civilian minister. Legitimate force integration requires a formal military process, including a parade, conducted through the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs and under the authority of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF).
5. The SSPM/A therefore calls upon all media houses, stakeholders, and the general public to disregard the misleading and unsubstantiated statements issued by Hussein Abdelbagi.
Issued by:
SSPM/A Command
