South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir, who is also commander-in-chief of the army, donated a consignment of assorted food items to army divisions on Monday through the Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs, state media reported.
The food, transported by Golda Ltd company, is set to be distributed to army divisions, brigades, and the military headquarters in Juba.
Defense Minister Gen. Chol Thon Balok, Chief of Defense Forces Gen. Paul Nang, and acting Assistant Chief of Defense Forces for Logistics Gen. Garang Ayii inspected the donation.
Gen. Kuol Deng Kuol, undersecretary of the defense ministry, warned officers against selling the food in markets instead of delivering it to soldiers in need.
“Ensure that the food donated is distributed fairly. Please do not forget your colleagues. Don’t sell [it] in the market again because we are being accused of bringing food from the contractor and then taking it to the market for sale,” Kuol told state broadcaster SSBC.
Brig. Gen. Mapuor Chadar, director of procurement and supply, thanked Kiir for his support.
“We appreciate the commander-in-chief of the SSPDF and the commander of the other organized forces for his unwavering support to his national army,” Mapuor said.
Eng. Yar Musa Dut, managing director of Golda Ltd, said the company had delivered sorghum flour, wheat flour, sugar, tea leaves, lentils, and other items in four phases.
The donation comes as soldiers have gone unpaid for over a year, despite government promises. Many troops and civil servants struggle to make ends meet, often resorting to alternative means of survival.
The move also follows clashes in eastern Upper Nile and political tensions after the March 26 house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, a key figure in the 2018 peace deal.