Angelina Teny to head SPLM-IO defence committee

December 8, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – Angelina Teny, wife of South Sudan’s opposition leader, Riek Machar, will chair the national committee for security and defence in the armed opposition faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), a position corresponding to the ministry of national security and defence in the government.

Teny has been appointed with effect from 6 November 2015 in accordance with the resolutions of the opposition faction in Nasir and Pagak, respectively.

“Pursuant to SPLM/SPLA Conference Resolutions (Nasir and Pagak), I, Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM/SPLA, hereby appoint Cde Angelina Tenya as Chairperson of National Committee for Security and Defence,” reads the appointment letter extended to Sudan Tribune on Tuesday morning.

It is for the first time that the opposition faction has appointed an official to head the defence national committee which had been vacant for the past two years of the war.

The security and defence national committee will be responsible for formulating and initiating security and defence policies of the opposition army, pending reunification of the two separate armies after 18 months of the would be transitional period of 30 months.

It will oversee the implementation of the security arrangements as well as ensure adoption of security and defence policies in the reform and transformation agenda of the country’s security sector.

Teny has been playing a leading role in the peace negotiations on security issues leading to the agreement on the permanent ceasefire and security arrangements for the transitional period.

Before the split of South Sudan from Sudan in July 2011, she served as deputy national minister of mining and energy in the then government of national unity in Khartoum.

The opposition leader also appointed Losube Ludoru Wongo as chairperson for national committee for land, housing and environment.

He also appointed Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, as chairperson for labour, human resources development, relieving him from his previous position as chairperson for public enterprise.

The latest appointments came as the opposition group prepares to return to the national capital, Juba, for formation of a transitional government of national unity with president Salva Kiir.

(ST)