Juba, South Sudan
March 26, 2022—South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit relinquished top army and police positions to Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO) and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) on Friday evening.
This comes in two days after the SPLM-IO/SPLA-IO led by the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny made it clear to public that they would not again take part in the meetings of Reconstituted Joint Monitoring Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) and other security mechanisms citing violations of the ceasefire agreement by SSPDF in many part of Upper Nile and Unity State by attacking their forces.
In a decree read out on the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) President Kiir on Friday evening issued a republican order relinquishing the positions of the Inspector General of SSPDF and Assistant Chief of Defence Forces (A/CDF) for Morale and Orientation to SPLA-IO.
Kiir relinquished the position of the Assistant Chief of Defence Forces (A/CDF) for Riverine Force to South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).
In police services, Kiir ordered a position of Deputy Inspector General of Police with the rank of LT. General be vacated for SPLA-IO and another position of a rank of Major General to SSOA.
President Kiir directed CDF of SSPDF and Inspector General of Police to implement the order with immediate effect.
Kiir did not mention anything regarding the unification of the commands of National Security Service, Wildlife Service, Prisons Service and Civil Defence (Fire Brigade).
However, It is not clear whether or not these allocated positions to the armed opposition parties, the SPLM-IO and SSOA were agreed upon.
First Vice President Dr. Machar’s opposition group (IO) which is the main peace partner in the agreement has suspended its participation in joint security bodies in protest against attacks on their cantonment and training centers.
SPLA-IO blames these attacks on SSPDF and its allied militias.
