3 Top rebel generals abandon Malong, form own faction

JUBA – At least three senior military officers of the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by General Paul Malong Awan have abandoned the former army chief and said they are forming their own faction to make reforms in the world’s youngest country.

In a statement, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Kuol Makuer, the deputy rebel military chief for logistics, Gen. Emmanuel Majur Majak, the operations commander of the SSUF/A, and commander for special operations as well as the SSUF/A spokesman, said they no longer belong to Malong.

“We the undersigned have and, out of necessity, opted to part ways with the current leadership of Chairman Gen Paul Malong Awan Anei; and announce to you the formation of the South Sudan United Front/Army Proper (SSUF/AP) as our new umbrella,” they said in the statement.

“The South Sudan United Front and Army Proper (SSUF/AP) therefore seek and affirm commitment to the nonviolent approach as an alternative to ending conflict in our Republic,” the statement further added.

They said that “the formation of the South Sudan United Front and Army (SSUF/A) emerged out of the need to address the real problems of our people.” It was a response to the wailing cry of our civil population in the refugee camps, internally displaced persons, and those affected by violence and the absence of rule of law.

“You will bear witness that our movement, the South Sudan United Front and Army, failed to respond to these ills.  A chain is as strong as its weakest link”—our movement is besieged by a greater evil force than the one we had imagined to fight. “The evils of mismanagement, lack of direction, and pettiness point to the apparent lack of leadership at the movement’s top brass.

“It is our strong conviction that the prevailing circumstances of our revolution have fundamentally changed.” Protracted wars only exacerbate the suffering of our civilian population. It is our hope that the government of South Sudan will reciprocate this good will in kind.”

Others who defected include Makoi Majak, the chairperson of SSUF/A Youth League, Maj Gabriel Maker Mathieth, SSUF/A Uganda chapter’s chair, and Angach Marial Diing, the Secretary in the office of SSUF/A Youth League, also defected from the political wing.