Former SSUF/A military spokesman urges Malong to join peace deal

January 6, 2023 (JUBA) – The former military spokesperson of South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) has called on the group’s leader, Paul Malong Awan to return to the capital, Juba and join the September 2018 peace deal.

Col. Philip Deng Kuol Nguot, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune, described the former South Sudanese army (SSPDF) Chief of General Staff as a “hungry-mind and a corrupt political/military figure who is unfit to lead the South Sudanese”.

He accused Malong of fighting a personal and not national agenda.

“Besides that, after it came to our notice that his struggle is against Gen. Akol Koor only, then, we had to pulled out from him in a large number and joined the government here in Juba because, if his problem is on one person only, which means what he is demonstrating for is not a national agenda,” wrote Nguot.

The former SSUF/A military spokesperson advised Malong to put aside his alleged grudge with Gen. Akol and rally behind President Salva Kiir ahead of the elections.

Kiir, in his written address on New Year’s Eve, reiterated his call on the holdout groups to lay down arms and return home to take part in elections due this year.

“I call upon the opposition forces especially the holdout groups who are fighting the government to lay down their arms and return and exercise their democratic rights in the upcoming elections,” he noted.

SSUF/A is a member of South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA), a coalition of holdout groups that did not sign the 2018 peace deal. The coalition also comprises of the National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirillo Swaka as well as the Real-SPLM led by Pagan Amum.

(ST)