During the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed defense minister, President Kiir emphasized the importance of addressing disarmament issues and recognizing the structure of the army. He also urged the defense minister to prioritize the implementation of security arrangements to achieve lasting peace.

The newly appointed defense minister, Gen Chol Thon, officially assumed his duties and reiterated his commitment to Chapter 2 of the security arrangements, as outlined by the president.

Government officials, including the Secretary of the ruling party Mr. Lam Both, attended the ceremony. It is worth noting that Mr. Both has faced criticism for making speeches against the vice president, Dr. Riek Machar, during his recent visit to Warrap State.