October 3rd 2018 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardiit and former army Chief if General Staffs turned rebel leader Gen. Paul Malong Awan have both disagreed on the terms under which Gen. Malong could return to the nation’s capital Juba to rejoin the government after almost a year in a self-imopoised exile.
Last week, a senior Malong aide told the Nyamilepedia from the Kenyan capital Nairobi that a Jieng Council of Elders (JCE) delegation sent by President Salva Kiir to meet Malong informed Malong that Kiir had wanted to reconcile with the former army chief but terms requested by Malong were not disclosed by the time to the former army chief.
“The terms of Malong’s return were not clear when we were informed by the delegation. What we have known is that the President I think is not interested in engage in a more publicized talks with the SSUF/A,” the source told the Nyamilepedia on the condition of anonymity.
Yesterday, another fficial told the Nyamilepedia that Kiir want Malong to return to the capital unarmed and as normal citizen, while the later want his return to the capital Juba based on an agreement.
“Kiir want us to go to Juba unarmed and as normal citizen. We said this is not right. There is need that aan agreement is made which should be public so that once things fall apart, the people of South Sudan who have beared the results of this carbage knows who is really stabbing them in the back in their quest for peace,” the official told the Nyamilepedia on the condition of anonymity.
Malong has been a close ally of President Salva Kiir Mayardiit until the later dismissed him as the top army commander following security reports against him which suggested that he was planning to host President Salva Kiir from power to instal himself.
Malong was angered by the dismissal then fled the capital Juba heading to his hometown Aweil when he was stopped at Yirol by the SPLA and forcefully returned to Juba where he remain under house arrest until the JCE secured his release after convincing President Salva Kiir pto release him on health grounds.
Malong left teh capital to seek medical treatment in Kenya and in March this year, he formed a armed opposition group joining the “Salva Kiir Must Go” slogan, a motive widely popular among the SPLM-IO supporters.
