Former SPLA chief of general staff Paul Malong’s return to Juba has been postponed over issues related to security in Juba, a local official said.

Malong was supposed to return to the South Sudanese capital on Thursday after receiving security assurances from President Kiir.

“The helicopter came to Yirol to airlift Malong, but the trip was cancelled due to security issues, the helicopter returned back to Juba,” a state official in Yirol who preferred anonymity told Radio Tamazuj this afternoon.

“Security officials in Juba said Malong should not return today, they said he will return to Juba tomorrow because there are security matters that need to be looked into first,” he added.

However, the official didn’t give details about the security issues that led to the cancelation of Malong’s return to Juba this afternoon.

Malong withdrew with his security guards to outside of Juba on Tuesday shortly after being removed by President Kiir and headed to his hometown in Aweil through Eastern Lakes State, where he stopped in Yirol town.

Authorities in Eastern Lakes State announced that they managed to persuade Malong to return back to Juba where he will be protected by his bodyguards.