South Sudan President Salva Kiir has appointed commanders under the United Nations, United States and European Union sanctions to the newly structured national army positions.
On May 14th 2017 Kiir who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the SPLA, issued a republican order decree revising the SPLA leadership creating 3 important units; Ground force, Air force and Riverine forces.
The changes were in accordance with the 5th Command Council Conference held in June last year that established the Defense Structural Review Committee.
The new changes approved by Kiir and formalized by the decree maintained the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the followed in the hierarchy by the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs.
The army commander is no longer the Chief of General Staff but the Chief of Defense Forces followed by the Deputy Chief of Defense- Inspector General. Fifth in the SPLA command is the Assistant Chief of Defense Force for Administration, Finance and Personnel followed by the Assistant Chief of Defense Force for Operations, Training and Intelligence.
The Assistant Chief of Defense for Logistics and Procurements becomes the 7th in the SPLA hierarchy followed by the Commander of Ground Forces. The commanders of Air Force and Riverine Units follow in descending orders.
Last night Kiir appointed Lt. Gen. Mangar Buoung who has been the SPLA Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations as the Assistant Chief of Defense Force for Administration, Finance and Personnel.
The UN, US and EU sanctioned Gen. Gabriel Jok is now the Assistant Chief of Defense Force in charge of Logistics and Procurements. He was previously serving as he Sector One Commander.
Meanwhile the former presidential protection commander, Lt. Gen. Marial Chanuong who was also sanctioned in June 2014 has been appointed the Commander Ground Force.
The US, UN and EU imposed sanction on the above commanders for their roles in the bloody internal conflict that broke out in December 2013.