South Sudan President Kiir Replaces Army Chief, Security Chief

By Deng Machol

Juba – South Sudan President Salva Kiir has named a new army chief and a security chief follow soaring insecurity along the country's major highways.

In a presidential decree, broadcasted on the state - owned television the country’s army chief General Johnson Juma Akot was replaced with General Santino Deng Wol.

The president also assigned former army chief Johnson Juma into the foreign service as grade one ambassador to Belgium.

The new chief is not new to the military. He has been serving as Assistant Chief of Defense for administration and finance.

Wol was first promoted from lieutenant-general to general before his new post.

Gen. Thomas Duoth was relieved from his position as Director-General of the General Intelligence Bureau, National Security Service, and replaced by Maj. Gen. Simon Yien Makuac, a senior SPLA-IO commander.

Duoth was reassigned to Kuwait as a grade one ambassador.

The President also dismissed Minister of Presidential Affairs Nhial Deng Nhial and appointed Dr. Barnaba Marial as his replacement.

Kiir also relieved a deputy defense and Veteran's minister Malek Reuben Riak and replaced with Chol Thon Balok. Gen. Malek assigned to Eritrea as grade one ambassador.

No reason was provided for their dismissal but a source in the office of the president said the move was part of normal changes by the president.