Kiir, Machar inaugurate newly formed security sector commands

JUBA –President Salva Kiir Mayardit and his first deputy Dr. Riek Machar Teny on Thursday evening inaugurated newly reconstituted commands of the entire security sector days after the president identified SSPDF and opposition commanders set to serve in the unified security sector commands.

Kiir on Tuesday night issued many republic orders read out on the state-own South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) forming the long-awaited unified army command, unified national security service leadership, police, wildlife, civil defense and prisons service.

Kiir and Machar, along with Vice-President for Service Cluster Hussein Abdelbaggi Akol had agreed a week earlier in a talk mediated by the Sudanese vice-president General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo to divide up positions in the entire security sector commands.

In a statement, the presidency said all the appointed commanders have taken oath of office before President Kiir and his first deputy Machar who also doubles as the chairman and commander in chief of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO).

“His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit , President of the Republic, in his Capacity as the Commander- In- Chief of the Unified South Sudan National Army and the Supreme Commander of all Other Organized Forces, presided over the Oath of Allegiance of Officers whose Ranks have been confirmed and the Oath of Office of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director-Generals (DGs) of the National Security Service and the National Wildlife Service, the Commissioner of Civil Defence Forces, and their respective Deputies in the National Army and all the Other Organized Forces,” the presidency said.

The statement said the “Oath-taking was administered by the Chief Justice Chan Reech Madut in the Presence of the First Vice President H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, Vice President for Services Delivery Cluster H.E. Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs Hon. Tut Gatluak Manime, Minister of Presidential Affairs Hon. Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin , Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hon. Mayiik Ayii Deng, Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Hon. Angelina Teny, Minister of National Security Hon. Obuto Mamur Mete, Minister of Interior Hon. Mahmoud Solomon Agook, and a number of Government Dignitaries.”