May 7th 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – The country’s controversial First Vice President (FVP) Gen. Taban Deng Gai said he has asked the new SPLA Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak to expedite the integration of his force to the SPLA after officially joining the SPLM ruling faction last week.
In a press conference held this afternoon in the nation’s capital Juba, the First Vice President said the implementation of the integration of his unknown number of his forces lies in the hand of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit pointing out that they will summit a number of their troops to the new army chief in the lists for integration into the army.
“The integration of forces into the army needs to be implemented. It is a responsibility of the President and we will submit the list of forces for integration,” Taban told journalist
Taban added that the integration process will also includes the absorption of his party cadres into the ruling SPLM party pointing out that this will be discussed with the SPLM.
“There will be people who will go to SPLM Youth League, Women’s League and all the structures of the party, so these things will be discussed within the SPLM party under the leadership of President Kiir,” he said pointing out that he he is ready to serve in any position given to him by the SPLM responding to questions whether he is lobbying to secure top party seats like the deputy chair of the party.
“These are issues of the SPLM party, and I am ready to serve wherever the party asks me to serve. If they ask me to serve the party in my luak (a traditional name for Nuer hut) I will serve in my village and in my luak.” he said.
Last week, Mr Taban dissolved his SPLM-IO faction and joined the ruling SPLM-IG faction under Kiir but it remain unclear when the integration process of his forces and cadres will take place.
