SSPDF soldiers who deserted return to receive salary with 400% increment in Unity State

BENTIU, OCTOBER 30, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – Hundreds of soldiers belonging to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) gathered on Monday at the army’s 4^th infantry division in Rubkona to receive their salaries with a new structure following the August increment.

Speaking to Sudans Post following a parade for the soldiers who received their salaries on Monday in Baar, the army’s division four commander Maj. Gen. William Mayang Mayak said most of the soldiers who came to receive their salaries had deserted their deployment due to lack of food and delay of salaries.

The senior army official who spoke to Sudans Post in his office at the division’s headquarters in Baar, Rubkona town, also thanked the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit for intervening to better uphold the situation of the soldiers.

“Our deserted soldiers have returned back to military barracks because their salaries were increased. Before the salary increment, soldiers abandoned barracks for cutting trees to produce charcoal and other local businesses to get their daily food, but they officially returned back as their salaries were increased,” he said.

“Our military morals and hope have returned back after we received our new salaries increment. We also urge the peace partners (parties of the revitalized peace agreement) to continue with salary increment for the welfare of soldiers,” he added.

He said the division had stopped conducting military parades because, according to him, it is very difficult for soldiers to go on for parades when their stomachs are empty and revealed that soldiers are in good mood after receiving their salaries.

“We have organized this military parade today because all South Sudan People Defense Force SSPDF division four soldiers are in good mood after receiving new salaries,” General Mayak said following the parade where Sudans Post was given access.

In August, South Sudan’s transitional parliament passed the national 2023-2024 fiscal budget. The budget was later on signed into law by the president, increasing salaries of the civil servants and members of the organized forces by at least 400 percent.

Before the salary increment, a regular soldier receives SSP 1500 (around $1.5). Soldiers at Baar told Sudans Post following the parade that they received SSP 39,000 (around (USD38).