A/HRC/43/56 Annex IV Armed State actors (command structures) The Armed Forces in South Sudan The Armed Forces of South Sudan was established pursuant to the SPLA Act of 2009 and organized, equipped and manned through issuance of Presidential Decrees issues by the President of Sudan. On 2 October 2018, President Kiir issued Republican Order No. 18/2018 changing the name of the South Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) to the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF). The Act provided that the SPLA shall be organized with active and reserve forces. The active forces shall consist of the following: (a) the ground forces; (b) the air force; and (c) the riverine forces. The active force shall be organized into divisions, brigades, battalions, companies, platoons and squads, organized into combat units, combat support and service support units and shall be under the direct command and control of such officers as may be assigned by the appropriate authority. The command and control of the SPLA begins with the President who is also the Commander-in-Chief and who shall have the powers to commission, promote, retire or dismiss officers of the SPLA. Under the Act, the President has the following powers: 1. determine the political and military objectives of the SPLA; 2. issue political and executive directives to the Minister; 3. Appoint the Chief of General Staff in consultation with the Vice President of the Government of Southern Sudan, on the recommendation of the Minister; 4. issue military orders to the Chief of General Staff; 5. Appoint Deputies to the Chief of General Staff, directors of branches, armed service division commanders in consultation with the Minister and Chief of General Staff; 6. commission officers, and, grant promotion to general officers and delegate the promotion of other officers to the Chief of Staff; 7. convene a General Court Martial when appropriate; 8. commute sentences and pardon officers and other ranks sentenced by courts martial; and 9. declare a general mobilization and take appropriate measures in consultation with the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly or request the declaration of the state of emergency in the whole or part of Southern Sudan in accordance with the provisions of Article 199 (2) of the ICSS. The Command Council is a consultative body mandated by law to provide advice to the President. It consists of the Commander-in-Chief, the Minister of SPLA Affairs, the Deputy Commander in Chief, the Chief of General Staff, the Under Secretary of the Ministry of SPLA Affairs, Deputies of the Chief of General Staff, directors of branches, armed services and division commanders. The Council shall have a secretariat located at the SPLA Headquarters. The Command Council shall have a secretariat located in the SPLA. The Chief of General Staff shall be responsible for the following: 1. the preparation of the SPLA military strategy and programs on the directives of the Command Council to organize and modernize the SPLA to ensure its ability to carry out its mission; 53