August 21st 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardiit has set conditions for the return – to Juba – of the country’s ex-army chief turned rebel-leader General Paul Malong Awan, an official with knowledge said.
The official who spoke to Nyamilepedia this afternoon said Kiir won’t accept the return of General Malong to the country and Juba in particular if he don’t give up on his troops who have been fighting the government.
This, the official said, is in addition to the condition that Malong must first renounces violence and unconditionally accept the peaceful resolution of the ongoing clashes between his forces and those loyal to Kiir’s government.
“The president told us that he will not accept Malong to return to Juba unless he renounce violence and give up on his small soldiers who have been fighting the government since 2018,” the official told the Nyamilepedia from Juba.
“He also wants Malong to unconditionally accept peace as the mean of ending the ongoing fighting between him and the government,” the official said.
Malong has been a close ally of President Salva Kiir until his dismissal as the army chief in November 2017 and formed the South Sudan United Front (SSUF) in April the following year to fight the government.
“Malong must accept dialogue as the only mean to express his grievances and must renounce violence,” President Salva Kiir was quoted as saying.
Malong is not a part of the revitalized peace agreement signed by several opposition groups with the government of President Salva in September last year.
Malong accused the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) of siding with Kiir’s government after saying his quest to join the peace process was refused by the IGAD upon the request of Kiir.
