Opposition leader Laraka Machar appoints female official to top diplomatic role

JUBA – The leader of South Sudan’s holdout opposition Patriots’ Resistance Movement (PRM), has appointed a female official to occupy the group’s top diplomatic portfolio, according to executive decrees obtained by Sudans Post.

In his first statement, Laraka promoted Nyakuma Rangdit to the rank of Major-General in the PRM, effective April 14, 2024.

“Pursuant to powers bestowed upon me by the resolution of the leadership of PRM, and section 14 subsection (0), (9) of the PRM Army Act 2022, as amended, I Laraka Machar Turoal, Chairman and Commander-In-Chief of Patriots Resistance Movement do hereby promote Hon. Nyakuma Rangdit Well to the rank of Major General effective 14.4.2024,” partly reads the order extended to Sudans Post.

In a separate statement, the opposition leader named Rangdit as the group’s Secretary for Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs and member of the Political Executive Council (PEC).

“Reference to above subject and recalling the resolutions of the members and the leadership of the Patriots Resistance Movement, I, Laraka Machar Turoal, Chairman and Commander-In-Chief of Patriots Resistance Movement do hereby appoint Hon. Nyakuma Rangdit Well as Secretary for Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs and member of the Political Executive Council (PEC) effective today 14th April 2024,” it further read.

The Political Executive Council is the movement’s highest decision-making body. The group was established in December last year after Laraka split from the SPLM-IO Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual.

At the time of his defection, he accused Gatwech of lacking the vision to achieve objectives set out by the group in its regime-change strategy.