Gov’t attempt to convince Gen. Buay Rolnyang to leave Malong falters – security sources

JUBA – An attempt by South Sudan security agencies to convince former army commander General Stephen Buay Rolnyang to leave General Paul Malong’s rebel group and return to Juba has failed, several security sources have told Sudans Post.

General Stephen Buay left Juba in May this year and declared allegiance to South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by General Paul Malong, a former army chief who declared war against the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit in late 2017.

General Buay had been detained for almost two years following his arrest by government-allied militia forces in Unity state’s Mayom County after being falsely accused of plot to rebel against the government.

He was stripped of his ranks, before dismissal from active military service in November 2019.

Speaking to Sudans Post on Saturday evening, a military intelligence source at Bilpam said there have been coordinated efforts between the SSPDF military intelligence and the National Security Service (NSS) to convince General Stephen Buay to return to the country.

“The Directorate of Military Intelligence and the National Security Service (NSS) have both been working in a coordinated way to make sure that General Stephen Buay Rolnyang is returned to Juba by convincing him to leave General Paul Malong,” the official who requested to be named said.

Another source said the army has made a critical decision to return General Stephen Buay to active military service saying previous administrations have made mistakes in dealing with General Buay’s accusations of rebellion and that the efforts failed because General Buay has turned down.

“There have been efforts and they ended with army generals agreeing that Buay be returned to active army list but he must first accept to return to Juba and leave General Paul Malong who is an anti-peace element,” the source said.

The source further added that “those efforts were unsuccessful because he (Genera Buay) is unwilling to continue to the dialogue for him to be returned to the army and I am not sure if there is to be another attempt.”