South Sudan government said the name of the national army has not changed after it was restructured by President Kiir on Monday.
Kiir’s spokesperson Ateny Wek said in a statement on Tuesday that the army’s name Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) has not changed to South Sudan Defense Forces (SSDF) as reported by local and international media.
“The President yesterday issued two decrees concerning the army. The two decrees are concerning the restructuring of the SPLA and restructuring of its leadership. The first decree didn’t intend to change the name of Sudan People’s Liberation Army, so we want to make it clear that the SPLA was restructured yesterday,” said Ateny.
In a presidential decree read out on state television on Monday night, Kiir restructured the army into three services headed by their respective commanders – Ground force, Air Force and Air Defense and Riverine Units.
Kiir also restructured the leadership of the SPLA general staff to consist of the Commander in Chief, the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, the Chief of Defense Force, the Deputy Chief of Defense Force and Inspector General.
The decree abolished the previous structure in which there used to be deputy chief of general staff and replaced the position with assistant.