Citizens warned against joining SSUF/A
Former spokesperson for the South Sudan United Front led by Gen. Paul Malong Awan has warned the public against joining the movement.
David Deng Chapath, who has now shifted allegiance to the government, apologised to the latter and the citizens for ‘making the wrong choice to join Malong’.
Deng said he did not want anyone to regret having passed through the same experience.
“However, it is not too late to make amends by saying to all those I have wronged that I am very sorry. I have unconditionally apologised and asked all those I have hurt to forgive me and to trust me. I can maintain trust once I have agreed with a person,” he said.
“I would like to warn all those who have in mind to join Gen. Malong Awan to learn from me to avoid regretting later as I did later,” Deng stressed.
He accused Malong of not appreciating his efforts and treating him with contempt and disdain.
“Sadly, I gave my trust to Gen Malong Awan and, in the course of supporting him, I hurt some of my relatives, friends, government officials, and some members of the public, but General Malong Awan betrayed me, ” he said.
“I, therefore, decided to call it a day and join the Government of South Sudan under the able leadership of His Excellency Salva Kiir Mayardit. Since I have wronged some people on the wrong mission led by the wrong leader, this apology is for my bad behaviour for hurting the right people. I was wrong without detecting it earlier, ” Deng added.
Replacement named
Last week, Gen Malong replaced Deng with Garang Malual Deng as SSUF/A spokesperson. Consequently, Malual became the new secretary of information and communication technology for Malong’s movement.
Deng Kuol Nguot, the SSUF/A forces’ spokesperson, boasted that Malual was more competent than Deng, who had now joined the SPLM.
“We have confidence in him. That is why we appointed him to this strategic position. He is more technical than Deng Chapath, who recently resigned, ” Nguot said.
The military spokesperson stated that SSUF/A was committed to the Rome talks and was only waiting for the date to be communicated. Malong confirmed Chapath’s resignation last week, wishing him well in his political career.
Upon his resignation, Deng criticised Malong’s leadership as lacking guidance, “nepotistic,” and that he “treats people with the utmost disrespect.”
Rome talks
SSUF/A and Real SPLM are currently holding talks with the government under the mediation of the community of Sant’Egidio.
A workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya, in mid-December resolved that Real SPLM, led by Pagan Amum, and SSUF/A, led by Paul Malong, would be included in the ceasefire monitoring mechanism in March 2022. But the National Salvation Front, led by Thomas Cirilo, stood their ground by not joining the talks, claiming that there was no sustainable peace.
