Paul Malong Awan

Paul Malong Awan (born 1962), also known as Paul Malong Awan Anei, King Paul, and General Paul, is a South Sudanese politician and military figure. Until 16 May 2017 he was the Chief of General Staffs (COGS) of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). The Chief of General Staffs was the highest-ranking military officer in the SPLA (now South Sudan People’s Defence Forces), and also the principal military adviser to the President of the Republic of South Sudan and the National Security Council.

Paul Malong Awan Anei
Paul Malong in uniform
SPLA Chief of General Staff South Sudan
In office
24 April 2014 – 9 May 2017
Preceded byJames Hoth Mai
Succeeded byJames Ajonga Mawut
Governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal
In office
27 March 2008 – 23 April 2014
Preceded byColonel Madut Biar Yel
Succeeded byKuel Aguer Kuel (as caretaker)
Personal details
BornEarly 1962
Warawar village, near Aweil, Bahr el Ghazal, Sudan[1]
NationalitySouth Sudanese
Political partySudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)
ResidenceAweil, South Sudan[1]
OccupationMilitary officer, politician, and entrepreneur
Websitewww.malongfoundation.org
Military service
Nickname(s)King Paul[2]
Allegiance South Sudan
Branch/serviceSudan People's Liberation Army
Years of service1983–present
RankLieutenant general
CommandsGovernor of Northern Bhar el Gazal
Chief of general staff

He formerly served as governor of Northern Bahr el Ghazal from 27 March 2008 to 2014.[3][4]

Early life and education

Malong was born in early 1962 in the village of Warawar, which is in the former Northern Bahr el Gazal state and situated about forty-five kilometers north of Aweil. His mother was Aluat. His father, Awan Anei, was a chief who governed his kinsmen in the Wun-Anei section of Abiem, situated in the current Aweil East state. At eight years old, Malong's father was killed by a member of his community. Malong's older siblings are deceased. In the order of their birth (excluding the deceased), the children of Aluat and Anei are Agot, Amou, Malong, and Atak.

As a child, Malong attended schools in his village. After his father was killed in late 1965, Malong moved to Muglad, Sudan, where he completed primary school in 1969. He completed his intermediate education at St. James in Khartoum, where he participated in the clandestine formation of the Anyanya II movement in the Bahr el Gazal area.[5]

Malong has more than 100 wives.[6]

Career

Malong arrived in Ethiopia in July 1984 to join Sudan People's Liberation Movement. He was then transferred to the Steel (Hadit) Battalion of the Koryom Division. He went to Officers' Cadet and graduated with the rank of captain in July of the same year. After his graduation, he was transferred to Northern Upper Nile State around the Maban area. He then returned to Itang, which was then the second largest refugee camp in Ethiopia. After a few months of lull, he was recalled and commissioned to the rank of major in October 1985. He was then posted to southern Blue Nile in the Eagle Battalion, where he spent three years at the battle front.

In April 2014 Malong was appointed chief of general staff of the Sudan People's Liberation Army by the president of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit.[7] He replaced James Hoth Mai.[8]

After he collapsed in Juba in December 2016, he was taken to Nairobi, Kenya, for treatment at Nairobi Hospital.[9]

In May 2017, President Kiir issued a presidential decree that replaced Malong with General James Ajonga Mawut.[10][11] Malong left Juba with his officials. There was speculation that Malong and his officials would spark a rebellion and he was asked to return to Juba before reaching his destination. Malong denied the accusation on Eye Radio, "I want to live as a normal person, as you know that this month of May is all concerning cultivation; my tractors are already in the fields that is why you have seen me heading to Aweil."[12] Malong also spoke to Radio Miraya FM, a United Nations radio station, "Whatever has been said, there is no reality, because if I wanted to have a problem, that problem should be in Juba."[13]

In August 2017, an appeal by Lucy Ayak, one of General Malong's wives, was published revealing for the first time that General Malong was under house arrest and that he needed medical attention.[14][15] The government initially denied General Malong's house arrest,[16] but later admitted that he was indeed under confinement. After several appeals, he was released on medical grounds and was allowed to travel to Nairobi for medical treatment.[17] Following his arrival in Nairobi, allegations of General Malong mobilizing against the Kiir government started circulating but were quickly denied as propaganda by his opponents. However, on 9 April 2018, General Malong officially announced the formation of a rebel outfit, the South Sudan United Front/Army to topple the Kiir government.[18]

Alleged war crimes

During the Anti-Nuer pogroms in 2013, many of the killings were carried out by a group known as Dot Ke Beny (rescue the president) or Mathiang Anoor (brown caterpillar), a militia of Dinkas formed for the protection of President Kiir and Paul Malong Awan.[19] The US pushed for an arms embargo and sanctions on Machar and army chief Paul Malong Awan through the Security Council, but it failed to receive enough votes to pass the sanctions in December 2016.[20]

References
  1. http://malongfoundation.org/general-malong-background/
  2. "3 Reasons why Gen. Malong Awan is nicknamed as King Paul". 18 May 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  3. "Paul Malong Awan Anei". Sudan Tribune. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  4. "Update: Kiir appoints Paul Malong Awan SPLA chief". EyeRadio. Archived from the original on 15 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  5. "Who is General Paul Malong Awan?". Talk of Juba. 14 October 2016. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  6. "The perils of polygamy: The link between polygamy and war". The Economist. 19 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  7. "South Sudan's new army commander says constitutional defence top priority". Sudan Tribune. 26 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  8. "South Sudan President Salva Kiir sacks army chief". BBC. 24 April 2014. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  9. "Paul Malong still "critically ill" at Nairobi Hospital: Eyewitness". Radio Tamazuj. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  10. "South Sudan's Kiir replaces army chief Paul Malong". Al Jazeera. 20 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  11. "South Sudan president Salva Kiir replaces army chief Paul Malong with James Ajongo". The Star. Archived from the original on 13 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  12. admin. "US slaps sanctions against General Malong of South Sudan | Daily Reporter". Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  13. South Sudan's sacked army chief quits Juba, dismisses fears amid civil war Archived 24 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Reuters
  14. Appeal by Gen. Paul Malong’s wife: Release my husband to seek medical attention - PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd - South Sudan
  15. SBS Language | Lucy Ayak Malek:"Mr. President, release my husband to go for medical help.”
  17. Former South Sudan Army Chief of Staff Released from House Arrest | Voice of America - English
  18. Former South Sudan military chief Gen Malong launches rebel group
  19. "Who's behind South Sudan's return to fighting?". African arguments. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 12 July 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  20. "US seeks sanctions on South Sudan rebel leader, army chief". The washington post. 19 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
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