Kiir won’t revoke order allocating top army, police positions to Machar – spokesman

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit has reportedly vowed that he will not revoke his decree allocating senior South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and national police service positions to the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).

On Friday night, President Kiir issued a republic decree allocating the Inspector General of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and deputy army chief for Morale and Orientation to the SPLM-IO. South Sudan Opposition Alliance was given the position of deputy army chief for riverine forces.

The decree readout on the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) further allocated deputy inspector general of police to the SPLM-IO and another position with equivalent rank was allocated to South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA).

In reaction, the SPLM-IO rejected the allocation of such position to it as a unilateral action that violates the revitalized peace agreement and urged President Salva Kiir Mayardit to revoke his decision.

But speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, a senior South Sudan presidency official said President Salva Kiir Mayardit won’t revoke his decision allocating those position to Machar and said he will continue to take the necessary steps in a bid to complete the reunification of the rival forces.

“President Salva Kiir has made it very clear to the parties especially the SPLM-IO that he will not backtrack on his decision regarding the allocation of army command positions,” the official who requested not to be named said.

“This is because the election is approaching and the president is trying his best to reunite the forces of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces with the forces of former rebels before the end of the transitional period which will be followed by an election,” the official added.