South Sudan army chief sacked

South Sudan’s Kiir. Photo: AFP

Juba, May 9, 2017 (SSNA) — South Sudanese national army (SPLA) Chief of General Staff Paul Malong Awan has been fired and replaced with James Ajongo Awut, according to a decree broadcasted live on the state-controlled South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation Television (SSBCTV).

Tension is very high here in Juba as soldiers loyal to President Kiir are deployed on Juba streets and plainclothes national security agents drive in and around the capital telling people to go inside their houses.

The South Sudan News Agency has been told by a senior government official that any politician from Aweil community suspected of being a supporter of the sacked army General has been detained.

The official added that nobody knows what will happen as factions of the SPLA loyal to Awan have also blocked roads leading to Awan’s residence, warning, “If he [Awan] refuses to surrender his power peacefully, then Juba could burn.”

The decree was broadcasted at 8:10pm, South Sudan local time.

It is not clear what cause Awan’s removal. However, rumors about Awan wanting to overthrow Kiir’s government have been swirling in Juba.

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27 Comments. Leave new

  • Hi! south Sudan, please done try kill innocent people again because of power.

    Reply
  • John Bong Sunday
    May 9, 2017 1:38 pm

    Ambassador Telar Deng should be President of South Sudan! Bring him back from Moscow! Long live Telar! Down with Paul Malong!

    Reply
  • George William
    May 9, 2017 1:48 pm

    Am not surprise at all cost! this is my country I know very very well am a pure South Sudanese by birth not neutralize but we common citizens will wait and see! otherwise we hope Juba will remain conducive as usual, this is only prayerfully!!

    Reply
  • Either shit will hit the fan or peace at last. Kiir has to have the gut to arrest Awan the butcher and send him to the Hague and arrest any so called followers, then he talks to the nation on TV and hands over power to a more nationalist, stable general for now until election. Meanwhile, June 2015 agreement has to be implemented without Kiir , Machar, Taban and the 2nd vice president.
    FYI, power has to be hand over to a general not Nuer nor Dinka. I let South Sudanese think about it.
    There will joy, and forgiveness by intuition from South Sudanese, once Kiir goes on TV, and resigns. People are tired of war, sufferance.

    Reply
  • Like your stories on South Sudan and want to always keep in touch

    Reply
  • Why him other than NOT?

    Reply
  • General Paul has served the army as a chief for long. His replacement is a normal adminstrative procedure, reflecting​ that no army officer can hold that position forever. There is a zero conflict between him and Kiir.

    Reply
  • Dobuol Yang Riek
    May 9, 2017 3:08 pm

    Salva kirr mayardit congratulation.
    please King Puol join our rebellion!!
    Viva SPLM/A – IO God open away to freedom fighter.

    Reply
    • Gen Paul Malong is a nationalist. He can never join the aimless rebellion. He only joined the SPLM/A, because the moment/army had popular distinctive objectives​ against the then regimes of the present day – Sudan,as opposed to rebellions of South Sudanese against themselves. He is going to be given a different assignment soon.

      Reply
  • Dobuol Yang Riek
    May 9, 2017 3:09 pm

    Dr Riek Machar will lead South Sudan by all mean!

    Reply
  • Festus chol
    May 9, 2017 3:12 pm

    Wah
    My God lead

    Reply
  • Amule Robert Idris
    May 9, 2017 3:39 pm

    For the first time in history where birds of the same feather now fly differently

    Reply
    • General Paul has an absolute loyalty and it is not just only his hometown but also many hometowns. He has this loyalty before the independence of South Sudan from the former North Sudan. The man has never been a militia but the original heavy Weight commando commander of the SPLA forces. He has done superb jobs so far in both two Sudans.

      Reply
  • I don’t trust Malong Awan at all because of John Garang and because they were used by North as militias for years.
    Forget, since Women from them aboard are no longer Trusted.

    Reply
  • Malong Awan is not far from where I come from, so it is not easy to gain a strong support from both three areas because of a selfish in- law.

    Reply
  • It’s okay malong, did his,s part

    Reply
  • South Sudan army chief sacked – Our South Sudan
    May 9, 2017 9:16 pm

    […] post South Sudan army chief sacked appeared first on South Sudan News […]

    Reply
  • Tom ASH FOR MORE.
    May 10, 2017 2:12 am

    That is why l mentioned this people can not come together what ever they lack of knowledge and good thinking
    some of have high ranges in army with no property education and he have his army commander how are you
    going to disarmed him special Dinka and NURA ,LEAVE OUT the Murle group people are suffering in Juba for
    nothing big mistake the president did from the start point of the leadership at the end he will be kill for that .the
    army have no money .

    Reply
  • wonderful your Excellence, this the beginning waiting for more news and action.the prayers is working now.

    Reply
  • James n. mou
    May 10, 2017 6:08 am

    To gather we are strong .we need change,Government can not be run without experience.any southern must have chance to contribute with his/her experience in government service.

    Reply
  • Its great to hear that the honey moon between Kiir and Malong is done and dusted. The primitive and self styled maniac Malong has butchered and destabilised the whole South Sudan since he was appointed by Kiir. Why has Kiir now come to his senses, and I would suggest that all of them should leave South Sudan for good, because they both participated in the wanton destruction of the country. Neither, Kiir, James Wani, Riek Machar, Taban Deng Gai are fit to rule South Sudan because their hands are dripped in blood of innocent people.

    Reply
  • Nhial Manut Adim Adim
    May 10, 2017 9:23 am

    May God help as we the citizens and keep us , save us and may God also bring us to an end of this war.

    Reply
  • mawa Zacharia
    May 10, 2017 12:40 pm

    why don’t dis napped be4 we take our refugee

    Reply
  • Silver Kiir needs to stand on the same podium and announce his resignation to the people of South Sudan. The people of South Sudan are done with so called Donna regime in Juba. For the killer Malong Awan, your death is coming from the sky.

    Reply
  • Silver Kiir needs to stand on the same podium and announce his resignation to the people of South Sudan. The people of South Sudan are done with so called Dinka regime in Juba. For the killer Malong Awan, your death is coming from the sky.

    Reply
    • that’s not the way you can overcome such problems bro pliz avoid tribalism and pull up ur socks!

      Reply
  • It is good that they had a pointed the so-called Jur Chol as the General Chef of Staff because Jur Chol itself is not fair. That is where Machar’s family stay aboard and they deny us. Well done to both Kiir and Wani.

    Reply

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