SSUF/A mission to Sudan rejects Sunday’s “coup” against Malong

JUBA – The South Sudan United Front/Army’s mission in Sudan has issued a statement condemning what it said is a coup against its leader General Paul Malong Awan after Emmanuel Sunday, the former spokesman of the group, said in a statement yesterday that he has removed Malong.

The situation within in SSUF/A began to unfold last week when Malong removed Sunday for allegedly leaking information to security agent in Juba. Malong then removed him as the head of information and spokesman for the group.

Sunday later announced in a statement on Saturday Morning that he has removed Malong for betraying the objectives of the opposition groups and for allegedly violating the agreement between him and the South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance.

In a statement on Saturday night, the SSUF/A mission to Sudan said it denounces what it said is a coup by the former spokesman and said it denounce any reasonable move to attempt to remove the group’s legitimate leader.

“Members of South Sudan United Front in Sudan denounce in the strongest possible terms what Dr. Sunday de John did in declaring himself president of the South Sudan United Front, an action that is rejected in full and detail by all of our supporters in Sudan,” the statement extended to Sudans Post reads in part.

“So, this note is to assure the general public that we are still behind the Chairman and Commander in Chief General Paul Malong Awan Anei in leading the real change revolution in South Sudan,” added the statement signed by Thomas Peter Okiech, the group’s head of mission to Sudan.

“The South Sudan United Front is an inclusive entity that includes all the people of South Sudan without looking at the geographical tendency. It aims to bring together national unity through an internal dialogue that leads to agreement on the principles of patriotism and to the Rome peace process that is aimed at bringing peace between the SSOMA and the government.

“What Dr. Sunday de John has done is a desperate attempt to undermine the right of the front by broadcasting information as false, fabricated, and tendentious in cooperation with the front’s leaders inside and outside. We assure you that the Front will defend itself strongly with all available means to preserve the rights of the people of South Sudan.