Nov 23, 2017(Nyamilepedia) —– Gen. Paul Malong Awan, the former Chief of Staff of the SPLA, traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, last Sunday hoping to return home or proceed to any neighboring country in the nearest future, however, such hopes are drastically fading.
Since he arrived in Kenya on Sunday the former Chief of Staff has been closely monitored by Kenyan and South Sudanese authorities, and kept busy.
“I arrived in Nairobi on Sunday and on Monday officials from the South Sudanese embassy came to visit me at home. On Tuesday, I had lunch with staff of the embassy” Malong said.
Gen. Malong was sent away on a travel document that allows him to choose between Kenya and Uganda after his passport was confiscated by the South Sudanese authorities in Juba.
The travel document will expire in three months with possibility that it could be renewed, however, the document is only valid for trips to Uganda and Kenya.
Speaking recently in Nairobi, Gen. Malong confirmed that his passport was confiscated by the government in Juba, and attempts to process a new passport failed.
“I tried to process a new passport in Juba, but the machine was not working across the country, so I came to Nairobi using a travel document that is accepted only in Kenya and Uganda” Said Gen. Malong, the former Chief of General Staff of the SPLA.
According to authorities in Juba, Malong’s passport carried his previous tittles as the Chief of General Staff, which became invalid after his sacking in May, however, it remains to be verified if it takes more than six months to process a new passport in the world’s newest country.
Reports emerging from Kenya alleged that Gen. Malong has made attempts to organize disgruntled politicians and youth on Kenyan soil with fear to mobilize them against Salva Kiir regime.
It is also alleged that Gen. Malong has applied for Sudanese visa but was denied entry visa by the Sudanese authorities.
Malong has denied both allegations saying that he has been constantly visited by South Sudan embassy staffs in Kenya and he had no time to apply for a visa or to meet political dissidents.
Malong, who is sanctioned by the United States and Canada, may remain in exile until president Salva Kiir recalls him.
The regime has sent more than 15 former senior politicians and military generals to exile in Kenya and Uganda for the last 4 years. Some politicians have rebuilt their relations with President Kiir and have been guaranteed security in Juba.
Many other senior politicians and founding members of SPLM/A remain in exile due to fear of their lives in the country they claim to have liberated.
South Sudan returned to civil war in December 2013 after just two years of its independence from the North.
The young country has so far spent four of its six years of independence in war and chances for peace and stability in the next few years remain a dream.
While 4 millions people are displaced, over 300 thousands are feared dead.
2 comments
He should blamed himself and his former boss like John Garang.
He should have blamed that on himself.