The Chief of the Defense Force in South Sudan, General Santino Deng Wol, has recently announced a reshuffling of the command of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF). The move is seen as an effort to improve the military’s performance and to promote greater accountability within the ranks.
The reshuffle affects a number of senior positions within the SSPDF, including the commanders of several divisions and brigades. The changes also affect the leadership of some of the country’s key military institutions, such as the Military Intelligence Directorate and the National Security Service.
The changes were announced in a series of decrees issued by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the SSPDF. The decrees were based on the recommendations of General Wol, who had conducted a review of the military’s performance and leadership.
The reshuffle comes at a time when the SSPDF is facing significant challenges, both internally and externally. The military is still grappling with the aftermath of a six-year civil war that ended in 2018, which left the military deeply divided and demoralized.
The SSPDF is also facing significant external pressures, including a surge in violence in the country’s Central Equatoria region and ongoing tensions with neighboring Sudan. The military has been criticized for its handling of these challenges, with some accusing it of human rights abuses and failing to protect civilians.
The reshuffle is seen as a response to these challenges and as an effort to promote greater accountability and professionalism within the military. General Wol has emphasized the need for the military to be more responsive to the needs of the civilian population and to be more effective in protecting them.
The reshuffle has been welcomed by some as a positive step towards improving the performance and accountability of the SSPDF. However, others have expressed skepticism, noting that similar reshuffles have taken place in the past without producing significant improvements.
Critics have also pointed out that the reshuffle does not address some of the fundamental issues facing the military, such as the lack of resources and training, and the need for greater reform of the security sector.