Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The United Kingdom (UK) has extended economic sanctions and asset freezes against the leader of the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) Gen. Paul Malong.
According to the consolidated list of financial sanctions targets in the UK seen by The City Review, Malong’s sanctions were renewed for atrocities he allegedly spearheaded during his reign as the SPLA General Chief of Staff.
“As Chief of General Staff of the SPLA, Malong expanded or extended the conflict in South Sudan through breaches of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and breaches of the 2015 Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS),” part of the document reads.
It claims that Mr Malong, nicknamed “King Paul”, directed efforts to eliminate opposition leader Riek Machar and ordered SPLA units to prevent the transport of humanitarian supplies. The UK government also says the sanctions were extended on the back of reported human rights abuses against civilians.
“Under Malong’s leadership, the SPLA attacked civilians, schools and hospitals, forced the displacement of civilians, carried out enforced disappearances, arbitrarily detained civilians, and conducted acts of torture, and rape,” it says.
Malong was also accused of denying UNMISS, the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC), and CTSAMM access to sites to investigate and document abuses. Now the leader of SSUF/A, a breakaway armed opposition movement, Malong was first added to the UK list of sanctioned individuals on 18/07/2018.
When contacted by The City Review, Phillip Deng Kuol, SSUF/A Military Spokesperson declined to submit any reactions saying it was out of the military jurisdiction.
“We saw the information from the UK government yesterday but unfortunately I only deal with military affairs and I cannot speak to you on this,” Deng said adding that The City Review can contact the general spokesperson of the movement.
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