Nov 3, 2017(Nyamilepedia) — South Sudan’s incumbent, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, has issued a new Republican Order titled “Insuarnce of Orders to the Chief of Defence Forces of the SPLA, 2017 A.D” to restrain his former Chief of General Staff of SPLA, 1st Lt. Gen. Paul Malong and his armed men as suspicion and fear of another fighting grows in the capital, Juba.
Following defections of platoons of SPLA forces from the general headquarters, Bilpham, in the last two weeks and rumors that the defectors are regrouping and reorganizing outside the capital, Juba, president Salva Kiir issued a strict order to his new Chief of Staff and his men in uniform to use maximum force to disarm, arrest or kill any loyalist of the former Chief of Staff.
“The bodyguards of the former Chief of General Staffs must be disarmed and arrested accordingly” Kiir said
“All arms and ammunitions in the possession of the Former Chief of General Staff must all be removed from him forthwith” President Kiir continued.
The Republican decree orders Gen. Ajongo Mawut to prepare for the worst as Gen. Malong loyalists may try to release him by force and oust president Salva Kiir in what would be a military coup d’etat.
In the order, President Kiir, the Chairman and Commander in Chief of SSPDF, orders that Gen. Paul Malong must be properly guarded in his home, turned into prison, and restricted from any access including access to his immediate family.
“No visitors shall be allowed to the residence of Gen. Paul Malong Awan, the former Chief of General Staff of the SPLA”
According to President Kiir, if Malong’s wives desire to meet him, such permission must be done in writing and approved by the current Chief of Defense Forces of SPLA, Gen. James Ajongo Mawut.
“The spouses(wives) of the former Chief of the General Staff of the SPLA desiring to meet him must first obtain a written permission from the Chief of the Defence Forces of the SPLA” President Salva Kiir orders through a Republican Decree.
Gen. Kiir reiterates that Malong must not leave his residence whether during the day or at night.
“The former Chief of General Staff must not be allowed to leave his residence at any time during the day or night” Gen. Kiir orders.
Malong’s arrest carries no terms and no legal procedure has been arranged so far, however, the man who was once nicknamed “the King” has been serving an open house arrest for the past 6 months.
As Malong and Kiir’s relationship continues to sore despise public criticisms and pleas from friends and family members, President Kiir seems more determined to silence Malong and his royalists now than ever.
The president is not considering any investigation on Malong for now, he believes that a brutal response to his former ally, a man who dominated the conflict and trashed the peace agreement in favor of Mr. Kiir, can do the justice.
“Any resistance posed by the former Chief of General Staff must be met with reasonable force” The President orders.
Malong who became the Chief of General Staff in April 2014 is accused of having played a significant role in leading the Juba massacres of December 2013 — a role that he has been sanctioned for by the United States of America alongside his two other colleagues who still serve in Kiir’s administration.
Prior to December 2013, Gen. Malong mobilized and trained over 15, 000 militias from his hometown purposely to “protect the president”.
The training was conducted in Luri at the order of President Kiir despite resistance from the then Chief of General Staff of SPLA, Gen. James Gathoth Mai.
Gen. Malong went on to mobilize, train and arm ten of thousands of young men from his Dinka subtribe of Nothern Bhar el ghazal, especially Aweil, with hope to win the war in favor of Salva Kiir; however, things changed as war drags on for years.
According to the insiders, Gen. Malong felt out with the Minister of Defense, Gen. Kuol Manyang Juuk, and later with President Kiir as the chief of general staff becomes more powerful in the army.
Since May 2017, Malong’s powers were stripped and most of his powerful men in uniform got disarmed, arrested or isolated through new deployments and retirement.
