By Lodu William Odiya
President Salva Kiir Mayardit has on Wednesday met with the Presidential Advisor on National Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak Manime, and the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol to discuss the integration of his forces into the country’s national Army.
In a statement issued by the presidential press unit, Abdelbagi had handed an official document for the integration of his forces into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces.
“With this pronouncement, Minister Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, has officially relinquished his position as overall commander of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance forces” the statement partly read.
Tut Gatluak Manime said Minister Hussein has handed over the rank and file of South Sudan Opposition Alliance’s (SSOA) forces to the President.
He underscored that the forces previously under his command were now subjected to the Commander-in-Chief of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit.
Meanwhile, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, announced that with this milestone, he now intentions to establish a political party with the objective of contesting for an elective position in the upcoming general elections.
The President had directed that these forces should be disengaged from any previous affiliations and subsequently integrated into the national army.
According to the statement, the integrated forces would soon be absorbed into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).