The President of the Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit has tasked the newly appointed Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Gen. Dau Aturjong Nyuol, to eliminate ghost names from the South Sudan’s People Defense Forces (SSPDF) payroll.
President Kiir made the statement during the swearing in ceremony of the newly appointed Chief of Defense Forces (CDF).
He emphasized the urgency of eliminating “ghost names” from the military payroll and improving the welfare of soldiers across all ranks.
The president called on the new CDF to take responsibility and ensure that the country defense forces is improved.
“This is a position of great responsibility, and I trust in your ability to serve with loyalty, discipline, and vision,” Kiir said.
The Head of State outlined a clear roadmap for the new army chief, urging him to focus on key priorities.
Among those main priorities including, eliminating ghost names from the SSPDF payroll to ensure funds reach active personnel, securing reliable food and fuel supplies, unifying the SSPDF as a constitutional, people-serving force, enhancing regional and international military cooperation and focusing on leadership development.
The President urged the CDF to take responsibility in strengthening the rules and discipline among the security officers.
In his maiden remarks, Gen. Dau pledged to lead with integrity, uphold the army’s constitutional role, and protect national sovereignty and citizens.
The implementation of sweeping reform would transform the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) into a professional, modern, and accountable national army.
The statement also noted that officials and the congregation welcomed the President’s directives, which “marked a significant step toward building a more accountable and capable military force,” the statement emphasized.
Last week, the South Sudan minister of finance, set out to eliminate ‘ghost workers’ from the public payroll and vowed not to pay out a mountain of claims worth millions of dollars until the invoices are verified.
