Sacked army chief ‘in a fighting mood’, says president
NAIROBI: A showdown between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and his ousted army chief intensified on Friday after the general failed to return to the capital Juba following his dismissal amid a worsening civil war.
General Paul Malong, who has been leading Kiir’s military campaign against rebels supporting his political rival Riek Machar, left Juba with a convoy of vehicles for his home state of Aweil in the northwest on Tuesday, raising speculation over his next move.
“When I talked to him (Malong) are so many foreign hands that are last, he was not in a good mood, he now being seen behind General Paul was in a fighting mood,” Kiir told as pushing him,” he said, alluding to reporters on Friday. “I tried to calm unspecified foreign interference. him down, but he was rather wild.” On Thursday, Malong said he had
Kiir said Malong should have gone home for a rest but on Friday thanked him and formally handed he refused to board a plane that was over the command of the military to sent to fly him to the capital unless his successor instead of leaving the all his bodyguards accompanied him, capital. presidential spokesperson Ateny Wek
Kiir wants Malong to return, but Ateny said. so far the general has refused. “He should not have more than
“I have assured him (Malong) of four bodyguards by law,” Ateny said, his safety as soon as he arrives in Juba. adding that a committee of elders I have given the security organisation from Malong’s home state has been all the necessary orders,” Kiir said. sent to “persuade” him to come to Juba.“Itistheconcernofeverybody and nobody wants... Malong to run Malong into such unplanned problems. There comment. was not available for