Army says no celebrations to mark SPLA Day

JUBA, MAY 15, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) has said this afternoon that there will be no celebration to mark the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Day on Tuesday, 16 May 2023.

SPLA Day is a public holiday in South Sudan celebrated annually on May 16 to commemorate the formation of the then rebel group in 1983.

On 16 May 1983, a group of mutineers from the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) opened fire in a barracks near Bor and would form the core of SPLA. Colonel John Garang de Mabior was sent to quell the rebellion but instead became its leader.

In a statement, the SSPDF spokesman Major-General Lul Ruai Koang said that there would be no celebration tomorrow, but some civil society organizations in the capital Juba would conduct mini celebrations at Simba Square.

“SSPDF Command would like to inform its ranks and files as well as the public that, there will be no official Celebrations to mark 40th Anniversary of Inception of SPLA/SSPDF,” Lul said in the statement seen by Sudans Post.

“However, some civil society organizations will do own Celebrations at Madin Simba, Juba, Central Equatoria State and at Malual-Chat, Bor, Jonglei State,” he added.

He further added that “the Army Command requests all to reflect on huge sacrifices made in order to attain independence as well as celebrate responsibly in own ways and places.”