Malong did not kill, but rescued Nuer civilians during Juba massacre – General Buay Rolnyang

JUBA – South Sudan’s former army officer General Stephen Buay Rolnyang who joined former army chief General Paul Malong Awan in May this year is saying that General Malong didn’t kill Nuer but instead he rescued many of them during the killing that would become the Juba massacre in December 2013.

General Stephen Buay made the comments to respond to some Nuer social media hardliners who sees his joining of General Paul Malong Awan as a betrayal as many sees General Paul Malong as architect of the Juba killing of the Nuer civilians in December 2013 when at least 20,000 Nuer were killed by members of the security forces.

“I don’t think Paul Malong killed the Nuer because they are Nuer by tribe. He was still not appointed chief of General staff when war erupted in Juba,” General Stephen Buay wrote on his Facebook page.

“The chief of general staff was our son General James Hoth Mai who could also witness that Malong did not kill the Nuer, but, instead when he was appointed chief of General staff, Malong rescued some of the Nuer,” he added.

He further said that Malong “went further to bring out of the POC Nuer officers, NCOS and men who fled to UNMISS/POC for their lives. Malong brought them out and paid them all their arrears and deployed them accordingly as South Sudanese.”

“Malong fired squad some SPLA soldiers who were still being accused of killing Nuer civilians during his command.

“What Malong did only is when he was ordered by the president and Commander in chief Salva Kiir to attack and pursue Riek Machar and to bring his head dead or alive which Malong failed to do, and as a result Malong fell out with President Kiir.

“It was an order from the above which can be executed by any army officer leave alone Malong Awan. You cannot defy an order from the president and Commander in chief of a country unless you are not a trained professional officer.”