The leadership of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) issued a stern warning on Thursday to military officers from the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), urging them to refrain from engaging in political activities.
Speaking to the media in Juba, Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the SSPDF spokesperson, disclosed that the SSPDF had received information about SSOA officers—currently awaiting the second phase of military unification—participating in political affairs.
The SSOA is part of the transitional government established under the 2018 power-sharing agreement.
The SSOA has been under increasing pressure due to political tensions and internal divisions among some of its members, including the South Sudan Patriotic Movement (SSPM), led by Dr. Costello Garang, and the Federal Democratic Party (FDP), led by Gabriel Changson Chang.
“In recent days, Lieutenant General Garang Akol Ayii, Director General for Procurement and co-chair of the Joint Defense Board, raised serious concerns about SSOA officers involving themselves in political matters while awaiting the unification of the second echelon of the command,” Maj. Gen. Lul stated.
Maj. Gen. Lul stressed that these officers must immediately cease any such activities, particularly harmful conduct on social media.
“Following consultations with the Chief of Defense Forces, who also serves as co-chair of the Joint Defense Board, and after a thorough review of the negative impact of officers’ involvement in partisan politics, we are issuing a firm warning to these servicemen to discontinue these practices and stop any detrimental social media activities,” he added.
Maj. Gen. Lul further warned that disciplinary actions would be taken against any officers who ignore these directives.
“Failure to comply with these orders will lead to disciplinary measures, including the loss of the opportunity for integration into the organized forces,” he warned.
In January 2022, President Salva Kiir Mayardit issued a decree prohibiting all active officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and members of the SSPDF from participating in political activities.
The decree also banned military officers from involvement in youth and women’s organizations and from spreading hate speech on social media.