International sanctions against Malong failed SSUF/A – Dickson Gatluak

JUBA, JANUARY 29^th 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The ring leader of a group of rebel officers who removed Gen. Paul Malong Awan as chairman and commander in chief of South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) on Saturday evening blamed the opposition movement’s failure on international sanctions imposed on its leader.

Gen. Malong before forming the South Sudan United Front in early 2018 was the chief of staff of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF). It was known as Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) at the time of his fall-out with President Salva Kiir.

Gen. Malong is currently under American, United Nations, British and EU sanctions for his role in the deadly conflict which broke out in December 2013.

He stands accused of being an architect of government failure to bring peace with holdout groups and for also overseeing human rights violations against civilians during the conflict.

Gen. Gatluak said the rebel leader could not advance the cause of the movement due to the international sanctions which he said curtailed his attempts to engage with world leaders in respect to the conflict in South Sudan.

“The imposed targeted sanctions by the U.S. Canada, UK and United Nations Security Council on General Paul Malong Awan for his direct command over private militia and expanding the conflicts in 2013, 2014 has hindered our operations, because of the travel ban and financial measures for years,” the statement said.

“Our former Chairman could not travel freely and have access to the military commanders on the ground,” it added.

He said they decided to remove Malong because he “demonstrated incompetency and lack of vision.”

“He does not have any clear strategy on how the crisis should be addressed in the Republic of South Sudan. From the onset of joining SSUF/A, we expected the Movement to wage a total war or have a total peace with the regime in Juba, but this has not been the case.

“Gen. Paul Malong Awan has failed to organize the Movement and the members felt frustrated due to lack of progress,” he charged.

It said that the group was “in urgent need for a new face, with new ideas and energy to organize the Movement as expected by the citizens, and the today’s declaration is a practical manifestation of a clear vision for South Sudan United front/Army (SSUF/A).”