The government of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) has welcomed President Salva Kiir’s recent order appointing the former ‘Cobra Faction’ rebel leader David Yau Yau to the rank of lieutenant-general in the SPLA.
Yau Yau was already serving as the Chief Administrator of the GPAA, per the terms of a peace agreement signed in early 2014. The rank gave him status equivalent to that of a state governor.
In an interview with Radio Tamazuj, the spokesman of the GPAA Sam David said their government has issued a congratulatory message to the Office of the President for appointing their leader to such a high military rank, giving him powers over all officers and former militia fighters in the area.
David also referred to the former rebel leader as ‘governor’ because the president also recently decreed that the Greater Pibor Administrative Area will be redesignated as “Boma State.”
“This is sign of trust His Excellency the President has shown to His Excellency the Governor of Boma State [GPAA], David Yau Yau, we are all happy and we now say the peace has come to our country, the Republic of South Sudan, we say long live the President and God bless South Sudan with everlasting peace,” he said.
Kiir’s decree was read out over SSTV late last week, saying that Yau Yau would no longer be considered as a major-general but was promoted ot the rank of lieutenant-general.
Yau Yau had defected from South Sudan’s government in 2012 and led a Murle-dominated militia against the government in parts of Jonglei State until signing a peace deal in early 2014. His native Pibor County remained largely calm since the start of the current civil war due to this local agreement, even though other parts of Jonglei were rocked by violence.
File photo: David Yau Yau (Al Jazeera)