South Sudan President Salva Kiir on Tuesday night issued a decree renaming the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) to ‘South Sudan People's Defense Forces (SSPDF).’
According to the presidential decree read out on state TV, the change of the name acquired by the SPLA during the war of liberation struggle complies with the resolutions of the sixth SPLA Command Council Conference and the country’s constitution.
Last year, President Kiir issued a decree restructuring the army.