By Luate Satimon – Juba, South Sudan – Wednesday, May 13, 2020.
President Salvar Kiir of South Sudan sacked the Chief of Defense Forces, General Gabriel Jok on Monday, May 11, 2020, without giving explanations, National Telegraph can confirm.
The sacking comes barely after three months of formation of a unity government with his long time rival Riek Machar.
The sacking of Gen. Jok was announced in a presidential decree on Monday on national television. The presidential decree, however, didn’t state any particular reasons for the dismissal.
President Salvar Kiir immediately appointed General Johnson Juma Okot as new Army chief.
Juma Okot who’s from Eastern Equatorial State has been the Assistant Chief of Defense Forces for Finance and Administration for the South Sudan national army.
The army spokesperson Like Ruai Koang while speaking to the local radio station said it was a prerogative of the president to remove the Military Chief.
“The new chief of Defense Forces is not new to the military. He (Okot) has need serving for nearly two years as Jok’s deputy, Gen Okot has just succeeded his boss, so he’s not someone being brought from nowhere,” Lul said.
Jok was appointed as Army Chief in May 2018 after the untimely death of the then Army Chief, General James Ajongo.
