South Sudan Red Cross has elected a president and board members in the first general assembly organised in Juba on Friday as a step towards full membership of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Secretary General Arthur Poole said the general assembly election was a milestone for the people of South Sudan as it set a pillar for the new nation.Mr Poole said the board members were tasked with the work of driving the Red Cross forward as it sought to assist South Sudanese communities affected by natural disasters and violence.
Marc Akio, who spoke on behalf of the government, said the Red Cross movement was not a political organisation.
He told its members to follow the good example of International Red Cross in keeping the principle of unity.
The two-day general assembly brought in representatives from the ten States to elect a new governing body, including the president and board members.
South Sudan Red Cross was established on July 9, 2011, following the independence of South Sudan. It works as an independent organisation with a key role in humanitarian assistance.