Malong orders forces to maintain current positions in commitment to Rome process

JUBA – South Sudan holdout opposition leader and former army chief, General Paul Malong Awan, has ordered his forces to remain in their current positions, days after he signed a recommitment to the Rome process with the transitional government in Juba.

In a communiqué issued from Italian capital Rome last week, Malong promised to send representatives of South Sudan United Front/Army to serve in the Ceasefire & Transitional Security Arrangement Monitoring and verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM).

“In exercise of the power conferred upon me by article 20.7.53.1 of South Sudan United Front/Army constitution 2021 AD and read together with Article 5.4 of the Rome communiqué on CTSAMVM induction Training, I, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, Chairman and C-IN-C of SSUF/A, do here by instructing all SSUF/A forces and NCOS to abide by the order and remain stationed in their various sites/locations. These are instructions that require all field commanders to adhere to their sites or location,” Malong said in a statement a copy of which was send to Sudans Post.

“All units must be alerted to these new developments and directives, and those who granted permission should report themselves to their units, locations and command immediately before August 1, 2022,” he added.

The former army chief said the directive comes “Within the framework of our goals aimed at achieving lasting peace and prosperity throughout the country [and] in line with the communiqué on CTSAMVM induction training course in Rome, Italy which was held on 20 to 30 June 2022 AD under the auspices of the Sant’Egidio community in collaboration with the mechanisms of CTSAMVM, UNMISS, RJMEC & IGAD among other international bodies.”

This was also “In order to interpret a protocol of security arrangements with the framework of the ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities signed between SSOMA and R-TGoNU.”