By Ajah Jennifer

The National Transitional Committee (NTC) is urgently seeking $95 million to commence the second phase training of the Necessary Unified Forces.

The budget was submitted to the Ministry of Finance and Planning following the board meeting on Tuesday.

In attendance were the members of the SPLM-IG, SPLM-IO, and Security Committees, including the Joint Defence Board, Joint Military Ceasefire Commission, Joint Transitional Security Committee, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission.

The meeting came amid the deteriorating security situation in most parts of the country, especially the outskirts of Juba city.

“Mechanisms will visit the control sites, the barracks, so that we implement phase two of the unification of forces,” said Kuol Manyang Juuk, the chairperson of the National Transitional Committee.

He disclosed that if the training starts soon, it will end on November 30, which would mark the closing of the chapter of the security pact.

“We have taken the budget to the Ministry of Finance, and we want to meet with them to see how they are going to release the funds. When do they release the funds so that nothing can start without money?” he explained.

The budget for phase two of the necessary unified forces includes the purchasing of food and non-food items, logistic requirements, and graduation and deployment of forces to various locations, among other needs.