JUBA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudanese government is finalizing preparations for the establishment of a National Defense University College, an official told Xinhua on Tuesday.
The decision to establish a military college was endorsed on Friday during a cabinet meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir, Information Minister Michael Makuei said.
"This project is proposed by the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs and will be funded by the government," Makuei said.
He did not say how the project would be funded.
Makuei said the cabinet has directed the defense minister to seek technical assistance from other relevant institutions to make all necessary preparatory work for the establishment of the university.
"The university will offer a variety of courses, and the major one will be in National Security and organized forces course, though the university will also offer other diploma courses as constituent college in the country," Makuei told Xinhua.
In May, President Salva Kiir restructured the top echelon of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to pave way for its professionalization after struggling to shed off the guerrilla tag within its ranks.
South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political disputes between President Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, led to fighting that pitted mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.
A 2015 peace agreement to end the violence broke down in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing rebel leader Machar to flee into exile.
The conflict has left tens of thousands of people dead and more than six million others displaced, both internally and outside the country.
