South Sudan former military chief of staff Paul Malong Awan. He flew to
Khartoum from Nairobi last week, but the reasons for his visit were
unknown. PHOTO | FILE
The South Sudan government has sounded the alarm over former military chief Paul Malong's recent visit to Khartoum.
The
Presidential Press Secretary, Mr Ateny Wek Ateny, alleged in Juba
Monday that Gen Malong was in Khartoum to seek support for his
subversive activities against the Juba administration.
“We are not surprised by his visit to Khartoum. The visit is an attempt to fight the government of South Sudan,” he told the The EastAfrican.
Political turmoil
General Malong flew to Khartoum from Nairobi last week, but the reasons for his visit were unknown.
Juba
worries that the influential former military boss could cause political
turmoil ahead of the High Level Revitalisation Forum due to resume in
Addis Ababa soon.
“He had already started subversive activities against the
government. So, it means he is in Khartoum for that mission,” Mr Ateny
said.
President Salva Kiir in January declared Gen
Malong a rebel after an alleged leaked audio tape revealed his intention
to attack Juba and Wau towns in an attempt to overthrow the government.
Mr Ateny claimed that the audio tape alone was sufficient proof that the former controversial commander had turned into a rebel.
Relations
between Gen Malong and President Kiir deteriorated after the former was
sacked from his post as Army Chief of Staff in May 2017 and placed
under house arrest for fear he would foment a rebellion.
Gen
Malong was freed in November following mediation led by the Jieng
Council of Elders. The agreement refrained him from going to his
home-town of Aweil in the former Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, but he
was free to travel to any East Africa country.
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