![John Agany, Chairperson of the Information Committee at the National Legislative Assembly speaks to journalists after sitting on Wednesday, 18th May 2022 [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/John-scaled.jpg?ssl=1)
In May 2022, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Ruben Madol Arol tabled Transitional Constitutional 2011 as amended, number 10 bills, 2022 to the parliament to change the name of the SPLA to SSPDF.
John Agany, Chairperson of the Information Committee at the National Legislative Assembly said the constitutional amendment bill which the parliament has passed changed the name of the national army from SPLA to SSPDF.
“The amendment is too small; it is just a matter of changing the name from other amendments to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and it was not actually a very big amendment,” Agany told Journalists on Wednesday after parliamentary sitting in Juba.
“The whole house has agreed to pass it into totality with all that recognition of unifying the forces under it and nationally it will take sharp.”
Agany said South Sudan has now joined the ranks of neighboring countries in the region by elevating its national army to be a professional force.
“South Sudan People’s Defense Forces, this is the name now we have adopted and it bears a lot of meaning because this is the amendment which owns the army to the people,” he said.
He said the amendment has transited the army into a professional defense force that reflects the diversity of the people of South Sudan.
“The act of the army which was supposed to be amended will now proceed because it will be uniform with the constitution because the constituted has now been amended,” he said.
He said the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Act, 2003 will also be amended to rhyme with the constitution.
The amendment in question is about the name of the army which has already been concluded in the constitution and you know it must rhyme together with the SPLA act. The act will be amended according to that name,” he said.
Good move by South Sudan National Parliament for having done amendment to add SPLA I0 forces into SSPDF. But there are a lot needed to be done. 1 the SPLA I0 forces under first vice President Riek Machar Teny must be brought out from bushes and station in towns. 2 reorganizing and preparing them payroll to received their salaries although the salary for Army in South Sudan is remain questionable. 3 all command who were appointed by the President Kiir must conducting more and more workshops in between former SPLA I0 forces and those who in government before just to make sure they have understand that, they are not rebels anymore and those who in government also to start building relation as one National Army of South Sudan. 4 the command generals who were appointed must go to visited places like Malakal, Bentiu, Fagak, Nassir county, Wau, Kij-Koji, Yei, Mundri and others, the Idea of doing that is to inform former rivalries fighters that, they are become brothers and sisters in Army SSPDF. 5 the former rebels SPLA I0 forces must be giving uniforms after all these suggestions are done.
I am still thankful to late general Paulino Matip Nhial, the man who was known as a bad general but when the CPA arrived perhaps, he changed his mind and became a man of peace. He brought 55000 militia and told them that, no more fighting against government in South Sudan and he also told them that, the Chief of staff general is going to reorganize you and you be part of the SPLA and SPLM. To stop fighting special in Upper Nile Regions and elsewhere in South Sudan, the Commanding generals must works very hard to make sure all Armies must be one National Army. Commanding generals also must send a strong messages to all Divisions particularly, the current generals on the ground to preach peace among former rebels and those who were in government so that they will starting new page and rebuilding trust as SSPDF.