The UN promised the SPLA's new leader, Salva Keer, that it would help investigate the death of Sudanese Vice-President (and former SPLA chief) John Garang. Keer will replace Garang as Sudan's vice-president. Keer is an experienced guerrilla combat leader, but as a political leader he is untested. African sources also say Keer lacks "tribal connections" that Garang possessed.