Breaking News: Gen. Malong Awan Is Fired As Army Chief, Deputy From His Hometown Takes Over

May 09, 2017 (Nyamilepedia) —— South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit has fired army chief of general staff Gen. Paul Malong Awan by a Republican Decree read out on SSBC but the decree cites no reasons for his removal. Malong is replaced by his deputy Lt.Gen. James Ajongo Mawut, SPLA deputy chief of general staff for finance and administration, both Malong and Ajongo hail from Aweil.

An insider close to Kiir’s camp who is to remain anonymous due to a sensitivity of the matter at hand discloses that Gen. Paul Malong involved in the meeting behind closed doors with President Kiir for four consecutive days before he was sacked, and nobody knew what the two discussed. It was later revealed that Kiir was to convince Malong to be replaced as South Sudan chief of general staff and be made a powerful Director General of National Intelligent Service, newly created position to accommodate him, but nobody also knew Malong’s response to the offer although it was noted he didn’t agree at first.

According to the behind-the-scene arrangement between Kiir and Malong, the Director General of National Intelligent Service reportable directly to the President will have two deputies. The directorate of Internal and External security will be converted into deputies to Director General of National Intelligent Service. The latest reports indicate that the former army chief has resolved to appointed Minister of national Security while Nhial Deng Nhial will be the Prime Ministers with delegated executive powers as Kiir is planning for a long medical leave.

It’s now emerging that Malong took his removal seriously and he jetted to his hometown Aweil, no one knows what he doing in his base, and those who know him well say he’s fully armed his huge force to confront Kiir. Other sources indicated that Malong left Juba this morning with 20 cars convey seen at Terekaka towards Rumbek. Kiir and Malong have issues that they failed to resolve and now they start to unfold with the latter’s removal.

The government of South Sudan is playing down the magnitude of what is going on between Salva Kiir and his former army chief. Presidential press secretary Malong’s removal is a normal routine.

“The removal of the Army Chief Gen.Paul Malong Awan tonight by the President of the Republic Gen.Salva Kiir Mayardit, was a mere routine change of guards. The appointment and the elevation of Gen. James Ajonga Mawut as New Chief of General Staffs is also normal given that James is next in seniority. No political motivation at all, no worries as the situation remained calm and normal in Juba” – Ateny Wek Ateny, Press Secretary.

South Sudan First Vice President Gen. Taban Deng Gai flew to Bor town before a decree to Malong’s removal was issued. Senior people who are familiar with such activities say Taban went to Bor to organize an army in case Malong turns his bullets against the government. Until now, the nation is in a worrying and confusing situation as everything relating to the sacking of former army boss is taking a different shape.