File photo of the some of founders of SPLA, from left to right: Cdr William Nyuon Bany, Cdr John Garang De Mabior, Cdr Salva Kiir. Cdr Kuol Manyang Juuk - Courtesy

The South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) headquarters said there will be no official celebration to mark the SPLA Day Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

The event is a national public holiday that commemorates the foundation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army on May 16^th, 1983.

On this day, South Sudanese remember the contributions of the heroes and heroines who fought to bring about the country’s independence.

However, SSPDF Spokesperson Maj Gen Lul Ruai Koang said on Monday the army headquarters has decided to mute the celebration like in the past three years.

General Lul did not give any reason for not marking the day, but he encouraged the public to celebrate at home with their families.

“I would like to make this statement on behalf of SSPDF general headquarters and the leadership, that, the command that there will be no official celebration tomorrow, however, some civil society organizations will do the celebrations,” Gen Lul told Eye Radio.

In 2019, some members of the public were angered after the government postponed celebrations of the SPLA Day terming it a disrespect to those who died liberating the country.

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was founded as a rebel movement on May 16^th, 1983, and led by its Commander-in-Chief John Garang de Mabior.

After South Sudan gained its independence in 2011, the SPLA became the army of the new country.

It was then renamed as the South Sudan People’s Defense Force in 2018, partly because the SPLA has splintered into so many acronyms over the years that is hard to keep track of who is fighting who.