South Sudan President Salva Kiir has given security assurance to the former SPLA chief of general staff Paul Malong to return back to Juba, a top state official said.

General Paul Malong withdrew with his security guards to outside of Juba on Tuesday shortly after being removed and headed to his home area in Aweil through Eastern Lakes state, where he stopped in Yirol town.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, the Governor of Eastern Lakes State, Bor Wutchiok, said President Kiir asked Paul Malong to return back to Juba, adding that he will personally accompany Malong.

“Malong talked to the president on Wednesday shortly after his arrival in the state. Malong said he left Juba because there were tensions before being removed, so according to Malong, he decided to leave Juba,”said Bor.

“Malong said he left Juba because he wanted to avoid problems because his removal could cause problems, especially his supporters and his community,” he added.

Meanwhile, Eastern Lakes’ Information Minister, Abraham Majak Makur, said today morning that they were waiting for a plane to arrive in Yirol to take Malong back to Juba.

He pointed out that the former SPLA chief of general staff will be accompanied by the state governor and chiefs from Yirol. “We are now waiting for the plane, I think the plane will come to Yirol town after two hours,” he said.

The state minister noted that the national government has given Paul Malong security assurances to return back to Juba. “Gen. Malong was assured that nobody will touch him and he will stay in his house under his own protection of his bodyguards and under the protection of the government,” said Majak.