President Salva Kiir - File Photo courtesy of Office of the President

President Salva Kiir has appointed former Upper Nile stateGovernor James Koang Chuol as Deputy Minister of Defense and dismissed the Commander of the Presidential Guards Unit, while also making changes in the Ministry of East African Affairs.

In a series of decrees read on state television on Monday evening, Gen. Philip Nyon was removed as head of the elite Tiger Division and replaced by Maj. Gen. Valentino Baak Makuei.

Meanwhile, Gen. James Koang Chuol, who was recently relieved as Governor of Upper Nile State, has been appointed Deputy Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs.

In the Ministry of East African Affairs, Deng Alor Kuol was sacked and replaced by Beny Gideon, who was also relieved of his previous role as Undersecretary in the same ministry.