Malong questions death of Telar, ex-army chief General Ajongo

JUBA – Former Chief of Staff of the SPLA General Paul Malong Awan has accused a group of unnamed individuals in the government as having played a role in the untimely death of former South Sudan’s envoy to Russia, Amb. Telar Ring Deng,  who Malong says he regards as a family member and also questioned the mysterious death of former army chief General James Ajongo Mawut who died in Cairo in 2018 a year after succeeding Malong.

Telar who served as President Salva Kiir’s legal advisor until 2014 when he was named South Sudan’s ambassador to Russia died on 27th December 2020 of COVID-19 related complications in a Juba hospital. On 24th December, Telar posted on his Facebook page that he has contracted the novel coronavirus and assured South Sudanese of his stable condition.

Speaking to mourners who gathered for prayers at the house of late Telar on Sunday evening in Nairobi, Kenya, Malong said he is “not convinced that Telar died of COVID-19,” suggesting that a foul play is not ruled out.

A close survey of social media posts suggest that a huge section of South Sudanese are skeptical on the swiftness of the death of Telar Deng, arguing that the coronavirus only kills patients at an average of 18 days from the day of diagnose.

Malong who is also the chairman of the anti-government rebel outfit, SSUF/A, further added that the death of Ambassador Telar Ring Deng and that of Gen. Ajongo Mawut are suspected and mysterious that leave many questions to be answered.

Gen. Ajongo who succeeded Malong as Chief of Staff of the SPLA in 2017 died less than a year in office. His family members who’ve refused to be named say they were aware that some “forces” within the government were extremely uncomfortable with Ajongo.

“It appeared to me that anyone who might have worked, cooperated or suspected to have associated with me are either rounded up, put in house arrests or die controversial deaths.”

He added as “unacceptable” for a nation as desperate as South Sudan to be losing its brilliant minds and decorated servicemen in unclear circumstances.