South Sudan’s First Vice President Taban Deng Gai has called on the new army chief, Gen. Gabriel Jok Riak to expedite the integration process of his forces into the regular army.

Gai, who was leading a faction of the SPLM/A-IO group in Juba, dissolved his faction and officially joined the governing party led by President Salva Kiir last week.

“The integration of forces into the army needs to be implemented. It is a responsibility of the president and we will submit the list of the forces for integration,” Taban Deng said at a press conference in Juba on Monday.

The first vice president said cadres of the defunct SPLM-IO faction will also be absorbed into the SPLM party.” There will be people who will go to SPLM youth league, women’s league and all structures of the party, so these things will be discussed within the SPLM party under the leadership of President Kiir,” he said.

When asked whether he was lobbying to security a top position within the SPLM party or not after dissolving his faction, Taban said:” These are issues of the SPLM party, and I am ready to serve wherever the party asks me to serve. If they ask me to serve the party in my luak [tukul] I will serve in my village and in my luak,” he said.

The top government official said he the united SPLM party will work to ensure multi-party democracy and freedoms in South Sudan. Gai emphasized the importance of unity within the historical party.