Africa-Press – South-Sudan. A senior South Sudan army commander has accused President Salva Kiir Mayardit of politicizing the deployment and promotion of army officers days after the South Sudanese head of state promoted his executive director, James Deng Wal, from the rank of colonel to the rank of major-general.
The senior army commander quoted by Paris-based Sudan Tribune says President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s promotion of political allies since he took over as chairman of the SPLM and commander in chief of the army has been a shucking precedent saying it shuttle the hope of those hoping for change in the army.
“What has been happening since 2005 when Salva Kiir took the mantle of leadership is not only shocking and frustrating service men and women but the manner in which he makes his decisions these days are embarrassing and clearly demoralizing those who are still in service hoping things will someday improve,” the officer who refused to be named told the online publication on condition of anonymity.
“I think the president still lives in this era because the way he does the things these days is exactly the way things were done back in the bush days of the liberation struggle,” he added.
The unnamed army commander further accused President Salva Kiir Mayardit of politicizing the deployment of army officers and giving priority to most close political allies.
“This has now politicized the deployment in the divisions and here at the general headquarters. Military assignments are now lobbied. I have never experienced this before, never in the history of the army that one will have to ask for a deployment to specific place. The command decides and deployment is rotated. Those eligible for deployment do not have to know,” he said.
“They are only informed. But today, people must know where they will be deployed and if they do not like they have to lobby where they would like to be deployed. This kills institutional spirit and undermine spirit of nationalism,” he added.
