The Aweil community has welcomed President Kiir’s decision pardoning all soldiers and senior army officers who left with Juba together with ousted army chief Paul Malong Awan after being removed from office last week.

"The decision of president Salva Kiir pardoning all those soldiers and officers who left with General Paul Malong demonstrates his ability to keep the country united, and as community leadership, this decision demonstrates not only leadership in the person of president Salva, but clearly shows that he is someone who listens to the people,” president of South Sudan’s council of chief Deng Macham said.

"We met the president on Sunday and the meeting went well, it was cordial and jovial. The president listened to us very carefully and he accepted whatever we requested from him. He assured us of the safety of General Paul Malong, the soldiers and the officers who left with him. He has pardoned them,” he added.

Macham, who hails from Aweil, was one of the elders who travelled to Yirol to persuade Paul Malong to return to Juba.