Defence and Veterans Affairs

Minister:
Hon Kuol Manyang Juuk

Functions:

The Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs performs the following functions and duties:

• Undertake the defense of the people of South Sudan under the direction of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan;
• Protect the borders of the Republic of South Sudan;
• Protect the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and guarantee peace and security to the people of South Sudan;
• Develop and implement the defense policies and strategies of the Government of South Sudan and the SPLA;
• Organize, develop, guide and manage the transformation of the SPLA into regular, professional, non-partisan modern army that is appropriate, adequate, affordable and operationally effective;
• Define the role, size, organization and resource requirements of the SPLA and create the foundations for its long-term development;
• Provide forces to the Joint Integrated Units;
• Assist the police and other security forces with the maintenance of law and order;
• Prepare the budget for the SPLA and manage and account for its implementation and expenditure;
• Procure equipment for the SPLA within the approved budget;
• Provide training for the SPLA through established training institutes in Sudan and abroad;
• Assist civil authorities t combat civil and natural disasters;
• Support the development of South Sudan through the deployment of the engineering and construction resources of the SPLA;
• Provide secretariat support to the South Sudan Defense Council; and
• Facilitate regular reporting and routine briefings of the President by the SPLA, and flow of information between the President and the SPLA and security services.

Structure:

The Ministry of SPLA Affairs is under the overall leadership of the Minister assisted by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief (D/C-in-C) and the Chief of General Staff (CoGS) assisted by Deputies of the Chief of General Staff (DCoGS) in charge Operations; Administration; Logistics; Training; and Political and Moral Orientation.

The ministry also has an Undersecretary assisted by:

• Director of Finance;
• Director of Policy and Planning;
• Director of Acquisition;
• Director of Public and External Relations;
• Director of Military Production; and
• Inspector General.

Projects and Programs:

The ministry is currently undertaking the following special projects:

• Defending South Sudan against the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and other threats;
• Training the SPLA forces;
• Establishment of headquarters at different levels; and
• Building the capacities of SPLA in various areas of competence.

Publications and Documents:

The ministry produces the following publications:

• SPLA White Papers on Defense (the latest was produced in June 2008);
• The Sudan Peoples' Liberation Army;
• SPLA Rules and Regulations;
• SPLA Retirement Policy;
• The Liberator

Contacts:

SPLA Headquarters, Juba - South Sudan
Col. Phillip Aguer
SPLA Spokesman
0977 216 466