Africa-Press – South-Sudan. Deng Chapath, the official spokesperson and the ICT secretary of the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A), led by Paul Malong, has tendered his resignation.
Deng expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership style of Gen Malong, referring to him as “nepotistic” and saying that he “treats people with the utmost disrespect”.
“Dear Gen, Paul, Please accept this letter as notice of resignation from the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) and as the official Spokesperson and Secretary of ICT. I tender this resignation as a way of expressing my dissatisfaction with your actions towards South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) officials,” Deng said.
He further said Malong offered no guidance. He said he was willing to share his dissatisfaction and way forward with the media as the resignation letter does not indicate which party or movement he would join.
“You treat people with the utmost disrespect. You are nepotistic in all your actions, and you offered little or no leadership and guidance from inception to this date. Through this resignation notice, I also convey my message to the public that I will brief them through different media platforms to share with them my discontentment and the way forward.”
The SSUF/A Deputy Chief of Staff for Training and Research, Daniel Mach, regretted Chapath’s resignation, saying the position of “spokesperson in SSUF/A’s (is) hot seat,” claiming that Chapath ‘‘had been bought by the government’’.
“This is the serious news. Our spokesperson was bought again by the government. Spokesperson in SSUF/A (is a) hot seat. No vacuum (left) actually, but it’s the target seat where the government buys people,” he stated.
Early resignation
In July 2021, the spokesperson of Malong’s movement, Chol Duang, resigned after two years of service in a letter dated July 18, 2021. “This is to inform my family, friends, colleagues, and the general public that I have resigned as spokesperson and member of the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) under the leadership of Paul Malang Awan Anei,” said Duang.
“However, the time has come for me to do other things. I will still contribute towards nation-building and peace on different platforms,” he added.
Paul Malong, who formerly served as the chief of staff for the national army, rebelled against the government in 2017 and formed the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A).
Rome talks
He later joined the Rome peace talks between the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) and the government, mediated by the Sant’Egidio community.
The talks were later halted after an ambush on the Juba-Nimule highway which left two Catholic nuns dead, among other three people on their way to Juba from the celebration of the Centenary of Loa, which was also attended by President Salva Kiir Mayardit.
The president halted talks, citing a lack of willingness from the holdout group to participate fully in the Rome talks. He blamed the attack on civilians on the National Salvation Front (NAS), led by Thomas Cirilo.
In November 2021, Kiir reactivated the talks during the closing of the governors’ forum in Juba, after numerous calls from peace lovers, including Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church.
SSUF/A of Malong and Real SPLM of Pagan Amum demonstrated their willingness to participate in the talks. In mid-December, delegates from the government met the SSOMA delegates in Nairobi, Kenya, where a workshop was held.
It was concluded that SSUF/A, and Real SPLM would be included in the Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism in March 2022, as talks are expected to resume this month. Why the date for the talks has not yet been communicated is not known.
The military spokesperson of Malong’s movement, Philip Deng Kuol Nguot, yesterday said that SSUF/A was willing to go to Rome for talks but was still waiting for an official date of resumption of talks to be communicated.
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