Malong launches constitution for his group ahead of peace talks with government

JUBA – South Sudan’s former army chief and leader of the holdout opposition South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) has launched his group’s constitution days before peace talks with the government commence in Naivasha, Kenya.

Speaking during the launch of the much-awaited document,  Malong called for constitutionalism, rule of law and respect for human rights in South Sudan saying he is hopeful that the country will emerges from the current political and economic crisis.

The even held on Saturday was attended physically and via video calls by other members of the group from around the world and eventually endorsed the document unanimously, marking an important milestone since the inception of the group.

“The Chairman maintains that for the country to exit the current critical era in history, it must return to the constitutional rule,” Dickson Gatluak Joak, a senior member of the group, told Sudans Post in an email.

“General Malong believes that a country that respects sovereign laws and protects its people under these laws can surely stand tall over other world nations,” he added.

While reaffirming his commitment to respect the document, Malong called on the entire SSUF/A membership to respect and uphold the document, saying “abuse of constitution results in disorder and chaos.”

He promised to provide more cooperative and consultative leadership in the movement, and reminded the assembly of the need to display greater discipline and zeal for the success of the organization.