Citizens in Aweil town in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr al Ghazal State have welcomed reconsolidation between General Dau Aturjong and General Malong Awan, the Chief of General Staff of the SPLA in the area.
The two men held a community meeting in Aweil town last week to tell the community that differences between them have come to an end.
In interviews conducted by Radio Tamazuj, several local residents said that the reconciliation process between the two generals will bring peace and stability in the state.
Juar Mawien, a local resident in Aweil town, said that they feel happy seeing the two leaders are reconciled, while calling on the citizens to support peace and reconciliation between the two generals for the sake of unity among the people of Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
Differences between the two generals arose during the general elections in 2010, when Dau Aturjong challenged Malong for the governorship and claimed that he won the elections, accusing Malong of rigging the votes.
In mid 2014, General Dau Aturjong defected to the armed opposition under the leadership of South Sudan’s former vice president Riek Machar. His troops re-defected to the government Aweil after crossing from neighbouring Sudan.
However, soon after conflict renewed in July at presidential palace, Aturjong announced his new decision to join the government and work for peace in the country. About 1,500 of his troops had arrived in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State in few months ago and they will be reintegrated into SPLA army soon.
Photo: Gen. Akot Deng (left), Gen. Dau Aturjong (center), Gen. Malong Awan (right)