South Sudan’s New Army Commander: Constitutional Defence Priority

{{South Sudan’s new army (SPLA) commander has said his priority will be to protect the constitution and the territorial integrity of the new nation, in an apparent back-track on previous statements in which he called for the withdrawal of soldiers from the Bahr el Ghazal region fighting rebel forces in different areas across the country.}}

Speaking to government officials on Saturday who had paid him a visit to offer their congratulations on his appointment, General Paul Malong Awan said restoring law and order was at the top of his agenda.

“The mission of an army is always to ensure defence of the nation, the lives of the people from any harmful threats and their properties. Another important mission of the army is to protect the constitution of the country and restore law and order. This is what we must do now as the top priority,” he said.

While Awan acknowledged existing challenges facing the army, he said he was committed to working with the country’s leadership to ensure that the basic needs of military personnel are met.

He also urged the army to remain prepared and on alert in the face of impending conflict with the rebel fighters in the country.

“I have always said that a soldier should always give priority to combat preparations. The minds of the commanding officers and soldiers alike seem to be away from the battlefield. This current attitude and behaviours must change,” he said.

However, critics have questioned the reasons behind Awan’s sudden change of heart, after previously advocating for the withdrawal of government troops from Aweil, the capital of his home state of Northern Bahr el Ghazal (NBeG).

Awan, a military veteran and the current governor of NBeG, was appointed after his predecessor General James Hoth Mai was sacked by president Salva Kiir.

Observers say Awan and his supporters pressured the president to remove the SPLA’s former chief of general staff amid concerns Mai was working against the leadership and collaborating with government critics.

Awan had also threatened to recall government troops from the Northern Bah el Ghaal region currently fighting rebels loyal to former vice-president Riek Machar in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Unity states.

sudantribune