Malong, who is now living in exile in Kenya, said ‘he never wanted to fight’ anyone. However, he was forced to do so by the situation, he says. This podcast is part one of the exclusive interviews by SBS Dinka Radio.
Highlights
• Paul Malong spoke about why he founded the new opposition to fight President Kiir's government
• Malong accused Akol Koor and Presidential advisor Tutkew of having a "hidden agenda"
• Malong said the country was in chaos and no one was taking the responsibility
Paul Malong Awan Anei had been the South Sudanese chief of the army since April 2014 before President Kiir fired him on 9 May 2017.
Malong decided to travel to his home in Aweil. However, he was stopped in Yirol and asked to return to Juba. He was later put under the house arrest and the military surrounded his home. An intervention by the elders got President Kiir to allow Malong to seek medical help in Kenya.
“I was told to go to Kenya and promised the money for treatment, and none of that came. When President Kiir visited Kenya, the meeting was initiated by the ambassador for me to meet President Kiir.
"I was able to ask President Kiir about the reasons my money was delayed... and my passport. But there was no good answer. After our meeting, the ambassador who initiated the meeting between Kiir and me was humiliated and fired," he said.
Malong is one of the people who was known to be a friend of President Kiir. However, that relationship deteriorated after he was fired. Malong said he tried to make peace, but there is no scope for such things on the side of President Kiir. He also accused people around President Kiir of having malicious intentions.
“I have never had the intentions to fight anyone. I wanted us to work together to find the roots or how things went wrong? I was released to go to Kenya on medical grounds, but I was stripped of my passport... I was given a document to travel in the region.”
