South Sudan’s army has issued a statement on Sunday denying its intention to arrest the former military chief Paul Malong, saying the deployment of troops around the residence of General was necessitated by his refusal to comply with order surrender weapons.
Lul Ruai Koang, the official spokesman of the SPLA army, said the former army chief Paul Malong has resisted to comply with lawful orders on reduction of his bodyguards.
Lu further said Malong had refused to comply with SPLA rules and regulations which do not allow him to have additional bodyguards after removal from office.
The military spokesman explained that the deployment of security forces around Malong’s residence was aimed at ensuring that enemies of peace do not exacerbate the situation.
“SPLA GHQS would like to inform the nation that a multifaceted approach is being used in order to resolve the misunderstanding amicably”, he said.
One of these multifaceted approaches, according to Lul, is the ongoing negotiations between Gen. Paul and concerned citizens including traditional leaders or chiefs from his home town.
The SPLA, he adds, has no intention of forcible disarmament of his bodyguards but rather wants him to comply with lawful orders on reduction of Platoon sized force he has had at his residence.“There are no plans to arrest General Paul or relocate him from his residence to another location,” he said.