Authorities of Eastern Lakes State have managed to persuade the former SPLA chief of general staff, Paul Malong Awan, who angrily left Juba with his bodyguards shortly after being removed from his position by President Kiir on Tuesday evening, to return back to Juba, a local official said.

General Paul Malong left Juba on Tuesday and headed to his home area in Aweil through Eastern Lakes state, where he stopped in Yirol town.

“The governor of Eastern Lakes Bor Wutchok held a meeting with Gen. Paul and the meeting was successful.  The meeting concluded that Gen. Paul should not proceed to Aweil, he will be here in Yirol so that people can try again so that he can return back to Juba,” head of the Eastern Lakes’ parliamentary committee of information Marial Amum told Radio Tamazuj.

“Gen. Paul will return back to Juba, if he fails to return to Juba today, I am sure he will return back tomorrow, “he added.

Amum pointed out that the former chief of general staff was not planning to rebel against the current government in Juba.” You see even his convoy can prove that, he is having two Land Cruiser vehicles, one with guns and the other vehicle is empty,” he said.

“I think Paul was not happy, but people talked to him and he has accepted to return, he will continue with his talks with the president in Juba,” he added.

South Sudan’s presidency and SPLA spokesman said this morning that Paul Malong Awan decided to withdraw from Juba with his security guards shortly after being replaced with Gen. James Ajongo Mawut, but he was not planning for war.