Government of Southern Sudan President and Commander-In-Chief of the Sudan People’s Army (SPLA), General Salva Kiir Mayardit, today June 6th, 2009, inaugurated the new command of the SPLA at the General Headquarters in Juba.
In a symbolic ceremony where former Chief of General Staff, General Oyay Deng Ajak handed over the SPLA flag to new chief, James Hoth Mai, Kiir said the latest reshuffle in the SPLA was intended to improve the performances of the army.
He urged the new command to keep the SPLA flag flowing and continue to transform and reorganize the SPLA into a modern warfare capable of defending the territorial integrity of Southern Sudan.
He told the gathering that changes are always inevitable. The changes he made, he said, were not intended to alienate anyone. Rather, they are done in the best interest of the people of Southern Sudan. In a promising overtone, the President assured members of the armed forces that freedom fighters do not go on pension. This, in essence, implies that after each of them completes his or her military term, they would be appointed, like their predecessors, to civil administration.
The occasion was attended dignitaries including Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, Presidential Advisors, various cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, Chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of various commissions, senior SPLA officers, representatives of other organized forces, heads of diplomatic missions among others.