Sudan Crises: President Salva Kiir And Army Chief Reconciles

The standoff between President Salva Kiir and his former Army Chief of Staff is apparently over as the two have reconciled their differences as all indication before now pointed to an escalated violence between the duo

The former Army Chief, Paul Malong has been under house-arrest since May at his residence in the capital, Juba after the unprecedented resignations of military officials on the grounds of ethnic bias and war crimes which they (military officials) said was prevalent in the Army.

The reconciliation happened on Thursday at the President’s residence with pictures showing Malong hugging President Kiir.

This move was also praised by the UN Secretary-General’s special representative in South Sudan, David Shearer who was grateful to President Kiir for peacefully resolving the weeklong standoff with Malong.

Shearer told reporters at a U.N base in Juba that it is important for South Sudanese to resolve their conflicts internally.

“The conclusion came down simply to the choice of putting South Sudan and stability in Juba before all other concerns. We are grateful for the statesmanlike way in which the situation was resolved” Shearer said

The reconciliation is a relief as tanks and dozens of government troops had surrounded Malong’s House after he refused to release a platoon of soldiers guarding him.

The tanks and troops were eventually withdrawn on Saturday after Malong agreed to release 26 of his 30 bodyguards.

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