Calls for SSPDF Spokesperson Lul to Resign and Join SPLM Amid Politicization Concerns

In a recent development, the Executive Director of INTREPID South Sudan, Mr. Bol Deng Bol, has called for General Lul Ruai Koang, the Spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defense Force (SSPDF), to resign from his position and instead to join the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM). This call comes in light of concerns over the increasing politicization of the national army and its potential impact on the peace process in the country.

Mr. Bol Deng Bol stated, “General Lul Ruai Koang should serve ONE MASTER; the National Army or SPLM (Political Movement). This behavior has evidently resulted in the massive politicization of the army through vertical defections and counter-defections. This ought to stop because it’s a circumvention of the Laws of the Land and is likely to cause a relapse to violent confrontations, thus costing us the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). Please, I am calling you out to honorably vacate the office and better suit yourself. This behavior shouldn’t be normalized to this extent.”

The intertwining of the roles of a national army spokesperson with a political party can have severe consequences. It can lead to biased dissemination of information, compromised neutrality in military matters, and erode public trust in the armed forces. Furthermore, such actions could potentially destabilize the fragile peace that South Sudan is currently striving to maintain.

In democratic countries, the role of a military spokesperson is to provide factual and impartial information to the public and the media. If a national army spokesperson is seen to be openly supporting a political party, it can be considered a breach of their professional duties. Measures such as suspension, reprimand, or dismissal could be taken depending on the severity of the actions and the impact on the military’s credibility and reputation.

As South Sudan continues its journey towards lasting peace and stability, it is essential for all stakeholders, including military officials, to uphold the principles of impartiality and professionalism in their duties. The calls for General Lul Ruai Koang to resign resonate the urgent need to address any potential threats to the peace process posed by the politicization of the national army.