South Sudan’s armed opposition leader, Riek Machar has appointed Henry Odwar as deputy chairperson of the rebel movement December 1.
“Pursuant of the SPLM (IO) constitution and reference to the political Bureau resolution of September 23rd 2016 on the restructuring of the SPLM/SPLA-IO political organ, I Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon chairman and commander –in-chief, SPLM/SPLA (IO) hereby appoint comrade Henry L Odwar as the deputy commander-in-chief, SPLM/SPLA-IO with an effect on 1st December 2016”, partly reads the decree.
The deputy chairperson’s post fell vacant in July when renewed clashes between South Sudan’s rival factions forced Machar out of the capital, Juba, prompting a section of his opposition faction to name Taban Deng Gai as Machar’s replacement.
The position of the deputy chairman of the armed opposition was previously held by General Alfred Ladu Gore, before renewed fighting broke out in Juba.
