President Kiir Awards Medals and Blasts His Top Military Generals including the CDF Over Corruption
President Salva Kiir posts with members of his senior command, the former SPLA Commanders, who fought for liberation. Besides awarding medals Kiir bashed seniors generals of his military for starving the soldiers and warned to retire them(Photo credit: SSNN)
Jan 25th, 2019(SSNN) — Barely three days after South Sudan News Now released an investigation report on corruption in military, South Sudan president and Command in Chief, Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, expressed his dissatisfaction over how army resources are managed, and warned that he may fire the top generals any time soon.
Speaking at a medal ceremony of the members of the former SPLM/SPLA High Command this morning, Kiir said he is not happy with all the military commanders including the Chief of Defense Forces, Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak.
“When I inspected the parades of the army, I observed that the health conditions of the soldiers are very bad. You [commanders] don’t pay their salaries, you are not feeding them,” President Kiir said.
“Starting from General Jok and going down to all commanders of the units, I’m not happy with all of you, and I have to say it” He continued.
”We always bring food to the soldiers but after it is put into storages, it finds its way into the market. It is you who take food to the market, not soldiers.” He continued the blame.
Kiir believes that since more generals and soldiers are joining him, he may not care very much unless the generals do good.
“If you do good things, you will stay… Many South Sudanese are coming, I will lay you off and I will hire new people,” he continued.
“You cannot remain in the army just because you are strong, because you take people’s money, because you take military food supplies.” Kiir warns.
Confirming a statement that was released two days ago by one of the senior military commanders, who also received a medal today, president Kiir attest that there are many ghost soldiers in the army whose salaries are being embezzled by the senior generals.
“They just say there are divisions and you find that the actual number of soldiers in one division is 100. But they demand salaries for 15,000 soldiers in one division, but this money actually goes to individuals,” the president said.
“During the implementation process, I will come back to you, the army commanders. Now the soldiers are scattered and left because they are hungry. You receive their salaries and take their money to your homes, so we will talk about it and I will start with Jok, his deputies and division commanders,” he continued
Kiir said that he will hassle money for his soldiers through ministry of cabinet affairs and speaker of the parliament.
“I’m going to the ministry of cabinet affairs to fight for the issue of the money of soldiers. I will also go to the speaker of the parliament and do the same,” he stressed.
It is not clear what provoked the president to come out now, however, according to many senior generals, corruption in South Sudan army is not something new.
“Look, here we have no code of conduct and when it comes to managing army resources, we have no protocols at all. You spend all you get and wait for the next salary. Salary comes and goes, no accountability, no check and balance, we are a guerilla military movement. Our SPLA mindsets were never transformed, we are operating as the rebels we used to be. So Jok has an opportunity of a lifetime here, he better filled his pockets to the fullest before he leaves. All his seniors did that and no body held them to account” Gen. Ecko Bravo explains three days ago.
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