South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has directed the newly appointed Chief of Defense Forces, General Dr. Paul Nang Majok, to professionalize the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in the face of regional challenges.
In a handover ceremony replacing General Santino Deng Wol, Kiir emphasized the military's crucial role in defending national sovereignty while strictly prohibiting political involvement.
"We warn SSPDF and other regular forces against involvement in politics, but rather to concentrate on their transformation into conventional institutions," the president stressed. "We will not allow anybody in uniform to engage in politics because you have a different role in the country."
Kiir also stressed the importance of ethical conduct, urging the military to avoid corruption such as land grabbing and to uphold its reputation.
"His excellency the president reiterated why he appointed him [Gen. Majok] and it was basically that he needed him to embark on the transformation of SSPDF into model and professional army capable of meeting today’s challenges to protect the territorial integrity of this country, the people of this Republic and their properties, and yes, to take care of every threat, whether internal or external," SSPDF spokesperson Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang told local media.
General Majok accepted the challenge, pledging to modernize and reorganize the SSPDF, improve soldier welfare, and equip the force with advanced technology.
This restructuring comes against a backdrop of reported incursions by the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF) into South Sudanese territory earlier this year.