Army says Malong’s rebel group ‘not negotiating in good faith’ for welcoming SSPDF defectors

JUBA – South Sudan’s army has accused the holdout South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by former army chief General Paul Malong Awan of jeopardizing negotiations for welcoming members of the army who are wanted for crimes committed while in service.

This comes a week after the Malong-led opposition group said a group of five members of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) joined its ranks along with an unspecified number of soldiers.

Speaking to Sudans Post exclusively on Sunday afternoon, army spokesman General Lul Ruai Koang said two of the defecting officers are fugitive running away from the army to evade accountability.

“Only two officers at ranks of Major and Captain defected. They had Administrative issues with their respective commands. They defected to evade administrative measures being taken against them,” General Lul said from Juba.

The senior army officer said the gesture by Malong’s group to welcome the defecting members of the SSPDF contravenes the ongoing peace negotiation being mediated by the community of Sant’Egidio between the government and Malong’s group.

“It shows SSUF/A is not negotiating in good faith,” General Lul Ruai Koang said. “SSUF/A’s celebration over defection of outlaws to their rank and file is tantamount to a storm in a teacup.”