Malong’s group downplays resignation of spokesman

JUBA — South Sudan’s holdout opposition group, the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by former army chief General Paul Malong Awan has downplayed the resignation of its spokesman who resigned earlier today.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post on Sunday morning, Chol Duang resigned, but did not mention reasons behind his resignation though sources said he resigned to protest rejection by Malong to be included in the SSOMA delegation to Rome, Italy, where government and opposition groups are negotiating peace deal.

Contacted by Sudans Post, deputy chief of staff for administration and finance of the South Sudan United Front/Army Major-General Dickson Gatluak Jock Nyuot said Chol’s defection won’t affect the movement saying he resigned as result of Malong’s rejection to include him in the Rome delegation.

“His defection has got no impacts in the party.  First of all, Chol was not an official spokesperson for the movement.  He was acting since April  when the position became vacant after Nyamach Nyang Choul rejoin the regime in Juba,” General Gatluak told Sudans Post from Nairobi this evening.

“So, the leadership decided to bring Chol from being private secretary of the chairman, General Malong to act at the same time as the spokesperson of the party,” he added.

He further added that the South Sudan United Front/Army has “no any problem for his  decision to quit only to wish him a good luck wherever he goes.”

The senior opposition official then disclosed that Chol resigned “because his name was cancelled from the list of delegates who went to Rome for peace talks.”

“The leadership decided to replace him with one of the  close protection officers within the office of the chairman in the Rome delegation.”