Machar urges new army chief to promote peace deal, rule of law

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has on Monday urged the country’s newly-appointed Chief of Defense Forces General Santino Deng Wol to promote the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and to respect laws.

On Saturday, President Salva Kiir Mayardit removed army chief General Johnson Juma Okot and replaced him with former SSPDF’s third infantry division commander General Santino Deng Wol.

The South Sudanese head of state also removed the director-general of external security bureau at the National Security Service General Thomas Duoth Guet replacing him with General Simon Yien Makuach.

He also removed presidential affairs minister Nhial Deng Nhial and replaced him with former minister of foreign affairs Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin who is serving as a presidential envoy.

Speaking following the swearing ceremony for the newly appointed government officials and army officers, Machar urged the new army chief to go through the constitution and the revitalized peace agreement to correct mistakes which are always committed.

“My advice to all of you,” Machar told the appointees, “is that if you have not been grounded in the two books which is the constitution and the peace agreement, please go through them because mistakes get committed at the level of these two books.”