By Deng Ghai Deng
South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) confirmed on Thursday the transfer and reassignment of the commander of the Presidential Guards Unit, also known as the Tiger Division.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, the spokesperson of the SSPDF, announced the changes in an interview with this publication.
Documents obtained by this outlet indicate that Lt. Gen. Santino Deng Wol, the Chief of Defense Force, was directed by the Commander-in-Chief, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, to transfer Gen. Lual Wek Guem, also known as Lual Maroldit, from his position as the commander of the Tiger Division to the General Headquarters in Bilpham. Abraham Gum Makuac has been appointed as the new commander of the Tiger Division.
“The Chief of Defense Forces has confirmed to me officially. He said he was called and also received an official letter from the Office of the President. So it is true. Gen. Lual has been redeployed to the 1st Infantry Division in Renk, and the commander for the 1st Division has been brought to Tiger, so they have been swapped,” Koang stated.
The changes were formalized in letters dated October 7th and October 10th, 2024, signed by President Kiir and Chief of Defense Force Gen. Santino Deng, respectively. Copies of these letters have been obtained by this publication.
Gen. Lual Wek Guem was promoted to the rank of Major General and appointed as the commander of the Presidential Guards Unit in May 2017. The elite unit, based in Juba, is tasked with protecting President Salva Kiir.
Gen. Koang emphasized that these changes are part of the routine operations of the army and are not related to any alleged coup plots.
He also urged the public to refrain from relying on social media for information, following recent rumors about changes in the Tiger Division’s command.
This move comes shortly after President Kiir dismissed Gen. Akol Koor Kuc, the long-serving Director General of the Internal Security Bureau of the National Security Service (NSS), replacing him with Akec Tong Aleu.
Kuc’s removal has fueled speculation about a power struggle among South Sudan’s top security officials.