SSOMA suspends Malong’s SSUF/A over communications breach
The Leadership Council of the South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance Leadership Council (SSOMA-LC) on Friday, September 25 resolved to suspend the activities of the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A) led by Gen Paul Malong with immediate effect.
According to a press statement that carried the announcement, the decision to suspend was “because of breach of the communication channel of SSOMA and the spirit of comradeship and trust within the Alliance.”
Reports have since surfaced that indicate Gen Malong insincerity in the SSOMA/Sant’Egidio process and he has been secretly reaching out to Salva Kiir.
On September 22, Malong’s SSUF/A announced it had suspended its spokesman Mr. Sunday de John over an alleged leak of a confidential document. In his defense, Mr. Sunday told reporters that he Gen Paul Malong and his group have recently reached out to Kiir, seeking a separate peace forum – a fact that his strongly objected.
“I objected to the move and told that it is not good for the movement to have two peace forums. I said the Rome peace forum is the best because we are part of SSOMA and it has international standards,” he said.
“At this critical juncture of our struggle for [a] peaceful and stable democratic state that is based on the rule of law, SSOMA as an Alliance believes in working together in good faith, mutual trust, integrity, transparency, and openness,” concluded the SSOMA press release.
SSOMA was formed on August 30 2019 when the South Sudan National Democratic Alliance (SSNDA) led by Gen Thomas Cirillo merged with the Real Sudan People’s Liberation Movement led by Amum Pagan and Malong’s SSUF/A.
Shortly after its formation, SSOMA entered into negotiations with the government, facilitated by the Community of Sant’Egidio in Rome.
4 Responses
[…] SSOMA suspended Malong’s SSUF on September 25 for a breach in the alliance’s communication channels, and Amum’s R-SPLM refused to sign the SSOMA charter in solidarity with Malong. […]
[…] can be recalled also, about three weeks ago, some members of SSOMA issued a statement saying “The South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance Leadership Council (SSOMA-LC)” […]
[…] can be recalled also, about three weeks ago, some members of SSOMA issued a statementsaying “The South Sudan Opposition Movement Alliance Leadership Council (SSOMA-LC)” […]
[…] Malong’s SSUF/A was previously suspended on September 25, 2020, for a breach of SSOMA’s Terms of Reference after reports surfaced that indicating that Malong was insincere in the SSOMA/Sant’Egidio process and had been secretly reaching out and communicating with the Kiir regime in Juba seeking a separate peace forum. […]