Malong has not been suspended from SSOMA – Pagan Amum

WASHINGTON – The leader of South Sudan’s Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (R-SPLM) Pagan Amum Okiech has said that no decision has been taken to suspend General Paul Malong Awan’s South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) from the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance (SSOMA) saying recent decision to suspend Malong was taken by a few individuals he however didn’t name.

This come after a letter surfaced on social media purportedly signed by members of the leadership Council of the SSOMA suspending Malong for alleged ties to the government and for opening separate communication channels with the Rome mediation.

Malong’s group yesterday issued a statement rejecting the suspension calling it null and void and said none of the three leaders of the Alliance, Pagan Amum, General Thomas Cirilo and Malong himself, were not presence in the said meeting.

“Unfortunately, a certain group within SSOMA hurriedly decided to suspend SSUF from the alliance. The Real SPLM met and objected to the decision because it violates the alliance’s systems,” said Amum said in an interview quoted by Radio Tamazuj. “Such a hasty decision could be detrimental to the unity of the opposition and the unity of South Sudan.”

Asked as to whether Malong will participate in teh upcoming round of talk with the government in Rome, Amum said: “Yes, SSUF remains part of SSOMA, and it will be part of the upcoming peace talks.  SSUF will be part of the talks because have we have not agreed on its suspension from the alliance.”

“The alliance was formed to unite efforts of the opposition, so we working hard to strengthen the unity of SSOMA because it will also strengthen the unity of the people of South Sudan. We will work to find solutions to the problems that arise from time to time to maintain the unity of opposition groups.”