The community elders of Aweil and church leaders are currently in a meeting with South Sudan’s powerful former army chief Paul Malong in an attempt to defuse tension in the capital Juba.

The standoff began since Friday evening when heavily armed government troops surrounded Malong’s home in a move to disarm his bodyguards on orders from President Salva Kiir.

“Bishop Majok of the Methodist Church, Aweil elder Garang Deng Aguer and the presidential envoy Akot Lual are now meeting with Malong in order  to contain the situation,” South Sudan’s presidential spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, told Radio Tamazuj today.

Ateny confirmed that government troops are still deployed around the home of former military chief Paul Malong. “People should not fear and panic. The presence of the SPLA army and the deployment should not cause any fear,” he said.

A relative of Malong also confirmed that a group of elders led by Biship Majok are currently meeting with General Malong.