Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The leader of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, officially handed over the command of his forces to President Salva Kiir on Tuesday.
During a high-level meeting at the State House attended by National Security Advisor Tut Gatluak Manime, Abdelbagi delivered the formal documents required to integrate the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) forces into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).
Hon. Tut confirmed to the press that the President accepted the handover, noting that the rank and file of these forces now fall under the direct authority of General Salva Kiir as the Commander-in-Chief.
According to Tut, this action fulfills a key presidential directive to disengage all armed groups from their former affiliations and merge them into the national military structure.
Hussein Abdelbagi Akol described the milestone as a personal transition from military leadership to civilian politics. He announced his intention to establish a new political party to contest for elective positions in the upcoming general elections.
Abdelbagi emphasized his commitment to a democratic future where political competition happens through the ballot box rather than through military strength.
The government welcomed the move, stating that the integrated forces will soon be absorbed into the SSPDF. This transition effectively ends parallel command structures and supports the national roadmap toward the 2026 elections.
On Monday, Hussein Abdelbagi announced his decision to relinquish his title as the overall commander of the SSOA forces during a joint press conference in Juba alongside the Minister of ICT and Government Spokesperson, Ateny Wek Ateny, to declare the formal end of his military leadership.
He stood alongside fellow SSOA members, including Hon. Changkuoth Bichiok Reth, head of the Federal Democratic Party (FDP) splinter faction; Dr Gasim Barnaba Kisanga of the National Salvation Front-Peace (NAS); and Hon. Clement Juma Mbugoniwia, leader of the South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC) and Deputy Chairperson of SSOA.
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