Office of the presidency has issued a statement denying reports by various media today that President Salva Kiir has decreed SPLA be changed to SSDF–South Sudan Defense Force.

“I think it was taken wrong from the reading. I am actually going to SSBC…It has not become the change of the name of the army. It is Defense Council that was actually formed and the SPLA is still SPLA,” Presidential Press Secretary,Ateny Wek said.

This was met with mixed reaction of equal praise and ferocious condemnation. In a statement clarifying the whole saga, Ateny said the name has not been changed only the structure.