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Sudan Tribune

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Kiir requests revision to SPLA Act to preserve military control

By James Gatdet Dak

March 25, 2009 (JUBA) – President of the Government of Southern Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit wrote a letter to the Speaker of the Assembly, James Wani Igga, requesting for amendment to an act which meant to pass control of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) to civilian authorities.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army Act of 2009 had passed unanimously in the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly on January 14 this year and the document was sent to Kiir to sign.

But a phrase in the document, which defined the qualification of the Defense Minister and Undersecretary, was amended by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. The phrase in Chapter 16 (I) of the Act had said that both the Minister for SPLA Affairs and the Undersecretary of the Ministry shall be non-uniform, exclusively civilian officials.

Kiir, who is also First Vice President of the Republic of Sudan and President of Southern Sudan, chaired the meeting of the Council of Ministers held Wednesday. The Council resolved to amend the phrase, arguing that the qualification to the two positions should not be restricted to civilians alone, but to either of civilians and military officials.

While the semi-autonomous Government of Southern Sudan was established in 2005 after the peace agreement, many of its state and national political figures still hold military titles and serve in a military capacity.

(ST)

11 Comments

  • Maruon Ayiei
    Maruon Ayiei

    Kiir requests revision to SPLA Act to preserve military control
    Well, the language is a design language and does not deserve a further explaination. The writer or crafter of the bill is a none military NLC who has never been or experience what it mean to be a SPLA. This legislator may have some sink as to why the seceratary of defend and his/her under-seceratary will be both under uniform officers. This trend is some what naive and may lead to a wildgist army. This is another poor sight in our political cycle and more of tactical scheme. The SPLM (IPB) Executive Cabinet, the August House (NLC) the Legislative will first have to uproot corruption, nepotism and insecurity in all areas in southern Sudan before they might dip their nose onto the military. This is a bad Move Mr President. You are still shaky and need foundation that you will hold onto. This is about the military now, but what is next after you curve in is yourself. You have to read the thread of politic in order to play with politic. It is ugly even with your old friend.

    Reply
  • Nelson Turdit
    Nelson Turdit

    Kiir requests revision to SPLA Act to preserve military control
    Mr Salva Kiir

    You are indangering the civilians situation by giving more powers to the army to control civilian. your army used to committ atrocities toward civilian, what you should do is to sack top five army commanders who are very corrupts and minister of Internal Affairs who fail to organize police or paid the police and equip them properly and deploy them in all areas of security concern. what you are applying now by preparing army is a complete dictatorship of military rule rather than SPLM sologan of democratic transformation of the new Sudan. insecurity is created by hungry person is an angrily person and you allow all salaries of soldiers and polices to go into individuals pocket.

    Reply
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