South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Monday sacked his Defense Chief Gen. Paul Nang Majok and appointed Gen. Dau Aturjong Nyuol as the head of the army.
No reason was provided for Nang’s dismissal, although it was widely rumored that he would be removed following the return of the president from his trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The sacking of Gen. Nang, announced by state-owned broadcaster South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), takes effect immediately.
The new army chief is not new to the South Sudan military. He has been serving as a commander in different assignments.
General Aturjong, a former SPLA-IO commander, served as head of the SPLA army’s third infantry division in the greater Bahr al Ghazal region, succeeding Gen. Santino Deng Wol after his return from rebellion following the 2015 peace agreement, which later collapsed.
Aturjong had also served as commander of the SPLA army’s sixth division before he joined the SPLA-IO, led by Dr. Riek Machar, in 2014.
Kiir assigned him as the commander of the army’s eighth infantry division in Jonglei before being assigned to head the army’s third infantry division in the Bahr al Ghazal region.
A former independent candidate who contested for the gubernatorial position in Northern Bahr el Ghazal state during the April 2010 elections, he returned to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) after losing the seat he contested to the then-governor, Gen. Paul Malong Awan.
Atujong was first promoted from lieutenant-general to general before his new post as the country’s chief of defense forces.
The country has been witnessing heightened security and political tensions after President Kiir sidelined his first vice president and longtime rival, Riek Machar, who was placed under house arrest in March.
Under Nang’s command, the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) intensified military operations—including airstrikes in civilian areas—against SPLA-IO forces and armed groups in the Upper Nile region, drawing condemnation from rights groups.
Ter Manyang Gatwech, a civil society activist, said Nang’s removal was expected, accusing him of atrocities against civilians.
“The sacking of the chief of defense is not a surprise to us, especially civil society organizations, because this guy committed atrocities within the specific time period he was appointed,” Manyang said. “He is going to be held responsible under international law for violations in Greater Upper Nile.”
“With recent changes in the judiciary, the chief justice should try to restore trust, so anyone who has done wrong is held accountable,” he added.
In other decrees, Kiir dismissed Peter Guzulu Maze as chief administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, reappointing Gola Boyoi Gola, who was fired from the same post in January.
He also named Michael Lopuke Lotyam as chairman of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority and Evans Kenyi Solomon as a technical adviser to the agriculture ministry.