The Commander-In-Chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), General Salva Kiir Mayardit, today May 31st, 2009, issued a presidential decree promoting the then Lt. Generals, Paulino Matip Nhial, the SPLA Deputy Commander-In-Chief, and Lt. General Oyay Deng Ajak, the SPLA Chief of General Staff, to the rank of Generals.
General Kiir, who is also the President of Government of Southern Sudan, issued another Presidential decree relieving General Oyay Deng Ajak as SPLA Chief of General Staff and named him Minister of Regional Cooperation in the Government of Southern Sudan.
In a separate decree, General Kiir promoted then Major-Generals, Salva Mathok Gengdit, Bior Ajang Duot, James Hoth Mai, Obutu Mamur Mete, Biar Atem Ajang, Pieng Deng Majok, George Athor Deng and Ayuen Alier Jongroor to the rank of Lt. General.
Lt. General Salva Mathok Gengdit, the former SPLA Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration, was then appointed presidential Advisor on SPLA affairs, while Lt. General Bior Ajang Duot was named Undersecretary of the Ministry of SPLA Affairs. In his last decree, General Kiir appointed a new command to the SPLA forces. General Oyay’s successor is Lt. General James Hoth Mai who takes over as the new Chief of General Staff.
He also named new deputies to the new Chief of General Staff as Lt. General Obutu Mamur Mete (Operations), Lt. General Biar Atem Ajang (Logistics), Lt. General Pieng Deng Majok (Administration), Lt. General George Athor Deng (Political and Moral Orientation, P.M.O) and Lt. General Ayuen Alier Jongroor (Training). All the decrees are effective from 31st May 2009.