SPLA leadership resolves to restructure army, change its name to SSPDF

[Elisabeth Janaina]

SPLA leadership resolves to restructure army, change its name to SSPDF

The sixth command council conference of the Sudan People’s Liberation
Army (SPLA) has resolved to restructure the army and change its name
to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), a deputy military
spokesman said.

SPLA deputy spokesman Santo Domic told Radio Tamazuj today that the
sixth SPLA command council yesterday discussed issues related to the
transformation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLA).

He further said the meetings adopted several resolutions which include
changing the name of the SPLA to South Sudan People’s Defense Forces.
“The meetings of the SPLA command council that were concluded
yesterday resolved that the SPLA Act of 2019 should be amended. "They
said the name of the SPLA will be changed and it will be SSPDF,” he
said.

He pointed out that the new changes will be amended through the
national constitutional amendment committee. “The name will be
officially changed when the constitutional processes are completed,”
he said.

Santo pointed out that the SPLA leadership also resolved to
restructure the army and adopt proper strategic plans for logistic and
promotions.

The commander of the SPLA ground forces, Gen. Marial Chanuong, said
that the decision to change the name was part of the effort to
transform the army as stipulated in the peace agreement and the SPLA
white paper.

“The current restructuring are very important step in transformation
of the SPLA. They represent bold and strategically justifiable efforts
of the command for years to balance the competing demands of a
changing security environment, military modernization and domestic
politics,” he explained.