The office of the chief of staff of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army has denied that General Paul Malong Awan was behind the removal and the arrest of Wau Governor Elias Waya Nyipuoc, who lost his job by presidential decree late last month.

A document was circulated on various internet based forums purporting to be a scan of a letter from Malong to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Lt Gen. Mangar Buong Aluenge. In it the general ordered the immediate arrest of Governor Elias Waya and disarming of his bodyguards. It was dated 25 June.

Lieutenant Colonel Makuac Lual Tong, an executive director in the office of the chief of general staff, denied the authenticity of the letter. “Who told you this nonsense? The letter that I saw on Facebook was the work of propagandists. It has nothing to do with the chief of general staff,” he said.

But while Makuac denies the authenticity of the letter, several military officers claimed Malong played an instrumental role in the removal of the former Wau governor and his subsequent arrest. They did not however confirm or deny the authenticity of the letter, saying any possibility can not be ruled out.

“The chief of general staff was aware of the events that were unfolding in Wau. He was also aware of the political activities by politicians and military officers agitating removal of governor Elias from his position,” said a former cabinet minister.

“If he was not aware and did not play any role the events in Wau would not have occurred.”