Gen Malong trade accusations with ex-SSUF/A spy chief
The South Sudan United Front/Army has accused its former Director of Military Intelligence and Commander for Special Operations, Emmanuel Majur Majak, of financial misappropriation.
Gen Paul Malong-led outfit accused Majur of misappropriating the budget allocated for SSUF/A’s military uniforms.
Deputy Military spokesperson of SSUF/A, Philip Deng Kuol Nguot, claimed the movement had not failed as had been alleged by members of the splinter group.
Nguot accused former SSUF/A spokesperson Akol Akol Pel for failing to manage his office. Pel also defected alongside five other senior generals.
“I would like to secure this moment to be in a position to assure you that our former Director of Military Intelligence has been put under investigation by the committee formed by the leadership after he swindled the budget of military uniforms,” he said in the statement.
The statement alleges that its that action that made Pel to run away from the movement.
Malong failed
A new faction named South Sudan United Front/Army Proper (SSUF.AP) in its letter of defection accused Gen. Malong of a lack of direction in his leadership, calling SSUF/A a failed movement.
The six senior officials who left Malong’s camp claimed they were committed to advocating for the rights of citizens through a non-violent approach.
“We the undersigned have and out of necessity opted to part ways with the current leadership of Chairman Gen Paul Malong Awan Anei, and announce to you the formation of the South Sudan United Front/Army Proper (SSUF/AP) as our new umbrella,” the statement read in part.
“The South Sudan United Front and Army Proper (SSUF/AP) therefore seek and affirm commitment to the nonviolent approach as an alternative to end the conflict in our Republic.”
They accused Malong of failing to address the problems faced by the refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
“The formation of the South Sudan United Front and Army (SSUF/A) emerged out of the need to address the real problems of our people.” It was a response to the wailing cry of our civil population in the refugee camps, internally displaced persons, and those affected by violence and the absence of the rule of law,” the statement continued.
“You will bear witness that our movement, the South Sudan United Front and Army, failed to respond to these ills.”
The splinter group challenged Gen. Malong to lengthen the suffering of South Sudanese through war instead of acquiring power through peaceful means.
“A chain is as strong as its weakest link—our movement is besieged by a greater evil force than the one we had imagined to fight. The evils of mismanagement, lack of direction and pettiness point to the apparent lack of leadership at the movement’s top brass,” the statement added.
In 2017, Malong rebelled against the government and formed the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A), but later joined the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA), which has been engaging the government in the Rome Peace Talks.
