July 2nd 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) has denied social media reports that a 22-year-old son of the army chief is serving in the army and has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by his father.
This week, social media users have been circulating a photo of an alleged 22-year-old son of General Gabriel Jok Riak wearing the rank of Brigadier General. The photo resulted into criticism and ridiculing of South Sudan’s army.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, South Sudan army spokesman, General Lul Ruai Koang, said the name of the alleged son does not exist on the army’s Damn Records at the army Directorates of Officers, adding that the army chief do not have a child named similarly nor does he have any son serving in the army or other organized forces.
“The name alleged as Brigadier General Agot Gabriekl Jok Riak does not exist on SSPDF’s Damn Records at the Directorate of Officers,” General Lul said in the statement extended to Nyamilepedia Tuesday. “The SSPDF’s Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak do not have a child named ‘Agot’ and that he doesn’t have a child or children serving in SSPDF as well as in any organized security forces.”
He said – following the army investigation into the name – the real name for the person whose photo has been circulating on the social media is ‘Brown Akoon Yel Dut’ who he said is “a member of South Sudan United Front/Army led by SPLA former chief of general staff Gen. Paul Malong Awan.”
He said the army “condemns in the strongest negative propaganda aimed at tarnishing the name of and compromising the integrity of Chief of Defense Forces as well as damaging the reputation of the SSPDF.”
