S. Sudan army says spokesman on ‘strategic’ mission, temporarily replaced

JUBA – South Sudan army has said that its spokesman, Major-General Lul Ruai Koang, is on a temporary strategic mission and that his former deputy and media director for the army chief, Brigadier-General Santo Domic Chol, will replace him for a short time.

Earlier today, General Lul said in a social media Facebook post that he was off duties and that Chol would take over his duties as the army spokesman without stating whether he will return to his duties.

“This short message serves to inform all media outlets that I’m off duty. All media & press issues will be handled by Brigadier General Santo Dominic Chol, [as] acting SSPDF spokesman and executive director in the office of SSPDF Chief of Defense Forces,” Lul said earlier today.

Speaking to Sudans Post this afternoon, General Chol said General Lul has not been removed saying he was only taking over temporarily and that Lul is on a strategic mission that he said will not be revealed to the media for its strategic importance.

“General Lul has not been removed. I am just taking over from him temporarily and he will be back to his duty when he finish his current mission,” Chol said on phone from the capital Juba.

“I cannot reveal his mission because it is strategic and you know these army issues are of strategic importance and that is why we will not be making it public to the media,” he added.