Santino Mayuat Ngong, a parliamentarian who was detained in Aweil for alleged links with Paul Malong, said they have been flown to Juba for investigations by security officials.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj today, Mayaut denied reports that they are linked to former army chief Paul Malong.

Meanwhile, the Aweil assembly’s speaker Deng Ayom denied links with the opposition faction led by Ajang Ajang Lino saying they have been brought to Juba for investigations.

The two officials said they have not been released in Juba.

For his part, Ajang Ajang Lino, the leader of the breakaway group that defected from Malong’s group and signed a peace deal with the government in Juba, confirmed the officials have been brought to Juba.

He said the members of the Aweil assembly and other officials who were detained for alleged links with rebel leader Paul Malong are set to meet President Salva Kiir in Juba.

 “The agreement we signed provides for release of detainees who were accused of having links with Malong. So, those people are free if they want to join us, but if they are released and they don’t want to be with us it is their right,” he said.

The former rebel official said the officials had been flown from Aweil to the capital Juba where they will meet President Salva Kiir.

“Those people have been brought from Aweil and are being accommodated in a hotel in Juba. They will meet President Kiir to tell them that they are free,” he said.

The officials brought to Juba are secretary general of the state government, three parliamentarians, former town mayor and two youths.