South Sudan’s Kiir Sacks Army Chief

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…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…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. (Radio Tamazuj)