The Jieng Council of Elders, a self-appointed informal advisory group to President Salva Kiir say they are disappointed by former army chief Paul Malong’s move to form a new armed movement saying negotiations were on-going to reconcile the two.

The council’s chairman Ambrose Riiny Thiik told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that they are yet to understand Malong’s move as progress on reconciliation has been made.

“The council is actually still studying the circumstances leading to the formation of the new opposition by General Paul Malong Awan because there were already discussions between him and the President. There were efforts by some of his friends and the elders to bridge the gap and reconcile the president and Gen Paul Malong. A progress was being made in this direction,” he said.

However, Riiny said they will continue to engage the two leaders to reconcile.  

Unfortunately, this new development has put these initiatives at halt but it does not mean we are going to stop. As the council, we will continue to advocate for peaceful settlement of differences through dialogue, not war,” said Ambrose.  

Since Malong was fired by Kiir in 2017, the Jieng Council of Elders has played a reconciliatory role to diffuse tensions between the two leaders.