[Near Verbatim]

President of the Republic of South Sudan,

Your Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit,

President of the Sovereignty Council of the Republic of Sudan, His Excellency Abdel Fattah al-Burhan,

President to the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,

Excellencies and Representatives of Member States from the region, from the African continent and from the international community,

Colleagues and friends of South Sudan,

It is a pleasure and a privilege to be with you on this occasion of the graduation of the first batch of the Necessary Unified Forces, as a witness signatory of the Revitalized Agreement and a peace partner. The United Nations congratulates the parties and the Transitional Government for giving life to this commitment to create a single national defence apparatus under civilian government authority.

This first graduation is a long-awaited day in this country's pathway to peace. A unified defence force is one of the most visible and meaningful expressions of national unity, especially in societies emerging from conflict.

Its establishment will, on account of its inclusivity and diverse representation, symbolize the national identity of South Sudan, not a partial or regional or tribal mechanism. But the Necessary Unified Forces will not merely be an important symbol, it will be an active contributor to national peace.

The implementation of transitional security arrangements is a cornerstone upon which further meaningful steps can now be taken including a broader security sector transformation process, nation building, and sustainable development.

The capacity of the Transitional Government to protect its own citizens, display South Sudan's respect for International Humanitarian Law, and guarantee the territorial integrity of South Sudan, will all be strengthened.

Today also underscores the intent by the parties and the Transitional Government to implement the peace agreement and an opportunity to recommit to the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). In the last few months, the Transitional Government has demonstrated that with focus and shared leadership, progress is possible. 

This is not the end of the process, but a new beginning. The graduation of the Necessary Unified Forces is an initial step in a complex but essential process of constructing a national army and other organized forces. It will require, as you are aware, a continued commitment by the Transitional Government to fund, deploy, and sustain these forces over time.

Importantly, we expect that the National Unified Forces will play a critical role in meeting the security and logistical needs for legitimate and credible elections, as provided for in the Peace Agreement. In this way, the National Unified Forces will also play a critical role in building democracy.

The most urgent challenge before the Transitional Government is in breaking the cycles of violence and conflict that have spread from north to south and east to west through the country. Today's graduation opens the possibility of effective deployment to curtail subnational and intercommunal violence.

We would also like to see a reality where, one day, the Necessary Unified Forces are the only legitimate bearer of weapons, where rampant cattle rustling will be brought under control, and where communities  can live amicably and harmoniously together. The time has come to take decisive steps to 'silence the guns' in accordance with the African Union Agenda 2063, so that an enabling environment is created to support community stabilization, the return of the displaced, and ultimately, for South Sudan to exit the transitional period after credible, free, fair and peaceful elections. 

Since the signing of the Revitalized Agreement, the UN has provided support at various stages of implementing the transitional security arrangements: training, technical support, and logistical support.

We will continue to offer support, including capacity-building of the police and other forces, and advising on the technicalities of security sector reform and a broader DDR process.

We have taken, together with the Government, a particular interest in the potential of the Unified Wildlife Services, an armed force which yet supports the creation of tourism-related livelihoods, physical infrastructure, and the protection of the people of South Sudan's natural resources.

In closing, I urge the parties and the Government to build on the consensus and momentum created in the last few months, so as to progress the critical benchmarks of the peace process.

As ever, the UN stands ready to support the Government and people of South Sudan. We will do so with IGAD, with R-JMEC, with the African Union, and the international community.

It is in this spirit that I renew the full commitment of the UN to support the implementation of the Peace Agreement.

I thank you.