South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has appointed as army spokesman Lul Ruai Koang, a former rebel spokesman widely known for inflammatory statements made throughout 2014 and early 2015.

“I promise to defend SPLA in Media Warfare until the last drop of blood,” said Lul Ruai in a Facebook post after the announcement of his appointment, referring to SPLA, the Sudan People's Liberation Army, South Sudan's official army. 

Lul, the former military spokesman for Riek Machar's SPLM-IO, was accused by IGAD Chief Mediator Seyoum Mesfin in December 2014 of a “direct violation” of Article 2 of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, which bans hostile propaganda, including statements that may fan ethnic hatred.

He was also exposed in an investigative report published by Radio Tamazuj in January 2015, which revealed that he had become a 'general' without any frontline command experience.

Although Lul cast himself as a military officer, most of his media statements and interviews were made from Ethiopia or Kenya, where he lived in civilian conditions. During his time as SPLA-IO military spokesman, Lul issued numerous statements that later proved to be false, seeking to spread fear and rumors.

He broke away from SPLA-IO faction in February 2015 and returned to Juba after falling out with rebel leader, Riek Machar, following several months of complaining against Mabior Garang de Mabior, chairman of the rebel group's information committee.

At the time of his defection, Lul announced the creation of a new political movement in his native Lou Nuer area in Jonglei state called the "South Sudan Resistance Movement/Army". As the new SSRM/A leader, however, he never gained entry to Lou Nuer territory, which was controlled by SPLM-IO, and he spent his days in the government capital Juba.

Lul's SSRM/A, which never consisted of more than a handful of followers, is likely to be disbanded or integrated into SPLA following his appointment as army spokesman.

Lul succeeds Colonel Philip Aguer, who has been appointed governor of the new Jonglei State, one of four proposed successor states to the old Jonglei State, which President Salva Kiir is seeking to divide under the terms of the October 2015 'Establishment Order'.

Citizens have reacted differently to Lul's appointment.

Majak Achuoth Malek, a Radio Tamazuj reader, said that he welcomes Lul's appointment “since he has an ability to represent our national army.”

“This is the right time to clean his image and work for the welfare of the SPLA. To me am very happy with his new assignment. I would like to appreciate our competent chief of staff Gen. Paul for the recommendation he has made,” said Majak.

Opposition supporters, however, were critical of Lul, accusing him of hypocrisy and opportunism. They questioned why he has joined an army that he regularly used to call “genocidal” and “tribal”.

“I am sure even if you happen to be [spokesman] for a group like ISIS or Al Shabab you would still excel out to be an exceptional spokesperson,” wrote Chuol Nyabieh on the social media site Facebook. Likewise, another critic, Oguek, wrote, “Salva and his tribal cronies are luring all the opportunists into Juba... Shameful!”

For his part, Lul Ruai himself described his appointment as “an honour and a privilege” to serve the country and the army at a critical time.

Related:

Mabior Garang: 'Blatant and continual hate speech' on SSTV (29 Feb. 2016)

Lou Nuer leaders distance themselves from Lul's defection (21 Feb. 2015)