South Sudan's ousted army chief returns to capital
Former Chief of Staff Gen. Paul Malong's return raises speculations over his next move

By
JUBA, South Sudan
The ousted army chief of South Sudan returned to the capital, Juba, on Saturday evening three days after being dismissed, raising speculations about his next move, according to a presidential spokesman.
Former Chief of Staff Gen. Paul Malong was sacked and replaced on Tuesday night through a presidential decree.
The silent departure had caused apprehensions about his motivations amid rumors of an armed confrontation.
The ex-general “arrived in Juba this afternoon…,” presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told Anadolu Agency via phone from Juba.
Ateny said
“The way he left Juba sends
The former military general had led the government’s military campaign against the opposition during three years of civil war in the country.
His sacking followed the resignations of several senior military figures who alleged that there was an ethnic bias in the army.
On Friday, Kiir told the media the ousted military chief was “in fighting mood” when they spoke over the phone. The president had also reiterated his security assurance to
The former chief of staff had refused to board a government plane that was sent to fly him to the capital unless all his bodyguards accompanied him.
On Thursday,
South Sudan has been mired in civil war since 2013 when Kiir accused his sacked deputy Riek Machar of a coup d’etat against his government. Machar had denied the allegations and then later went on to form a rebellion to oust the government.
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