Atak Awan, the brother of South Sudan’s former army chief, Gen. Paul Awan Malong, says his brother will not stab the country in the back, downplaying rumours and fears that he may rebel against Kiir government.

Atak said in an interview with Radio Tamazuj today that Malong was one of the leaders who fought hard for the people of South Sudan to gain independence.

“If there are people who want to destroy the country he fought to liberate, he will not be one of them. I know him very well,” he said.

Atak expressed optimism that the row between the government and his brother Paul Malong would be settled amicably. “Malong, yes, he is my brother but he was in the government and what he and those in the government do there are not what we in the family know,” he said.

The former army chief Paul Malong said earlier this week that constant provocations by people whom he labeled as "the enemies of peace" would force him to take a decision, without elaborating.

He claimed that there was a threat to his life and that of his family, while denying the purported leaked audio tape recording conversations he had with commanders on the ground to take up arms and fight Kiir’s government.