The newly appointed Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Dau Aturjong, has been urged to prioritize ending the escalating armed violence across South Sudan and lead the country toward lasting peace.
The call was made by Edmund Yakani, Executive Director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), following President Salva Kiir’s decision to replace Gen. Paul Nang Majok with Gen. Aturjong as head of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) on Monday evening.
“This appointment comes at a critical time when the country is facing widespread insecurity. We expect Gen. Aturjong to take bold and immediate steps to end armed violence and restore public confidence in the army’s role as a protector of civilians,” Yakani said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Yakani stressed that many communities across the country remain trapped in cycles of armed conflict, intercommunal clashes, and lawlessness, and called on the new CDF to lead a security sector reform process that puts civilian protection at its core.
In a strong appeal, he also urged Gen. Aturjong to ensure that no child is recruited into the army, following reports that some children were among those arrested in recent crackdowns on criminal gangs and are now allegedly being enlisted into military service.
“The new CDF must ensure full compliance with national and international laws that prohibit the recruitment of children into armed forces,” Yakani stated. “Using children as soldiers is a grave violation of their rights and undermines our collective efforts to build a peaceful and lawful society.”
In a related appeal, Yakani also called on Gola Boyoi Gola, in his capacity as Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, to spearhead efforts to resolve the long-standing intercommunal violence between Greater Pibor and Jonglei State.
“The intercommunal violence between Greater Pibor and Jonglei State has become a chronic crisis, marked by cattle raids, child abductions, and deadly revenge attacks,” Yakani said. “As Chief Administrator, Gola Boyoi must take leadership in fostering peace, reconciliation, and sustainable solutions in the region.”
