South Sudan sacked army chief not rebelling: official

South Sudan's sacked army chief general Paul Malong is harmless and has not rebelled against the government, said senior officials on Thursday.

The Minister of Defence Kuol Manyang told Xinhua in Juba that they were in contact with the former General Chief of Staff, who upon being relieved by President Salva Kiir from his job on Tuesday, quietly retreated with a convoy of soldiers to his home of Aweil, northwest of the capital, causing public fear and anxiety about his next move.

"He (Malong) is not in the bush. It was when he was removed from office that he went away (to Aweil) but he has not done yet any harm or damage," Manyang told Xinhua.

"We are already talking to him. He is with the governor of Eastern Lakes state and he will be coming today," he added.

The former army chief, who has been replaced by General James Ajongo, was until his sacking a confidant and loyalist of President Kiir whose tenure at the helm of the South Sudan army (SPLA) was characterized by mass exodus of senior officers accusing the later of favouring officers from his Dinka ethnic group.

Meanwhile, President Kiir's spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny also confirmed Malong's imminent arrival in Juba but did not reveal details whether the controversial General would meet President Kiir upon his arrival in the capital.

"He will be coming shortly. There are people who have been talking to him and the President," Ateny disclosed.

Malong's leadership at SPLA had hugely become notorious during counter insurgency operations against rebels in Equatoria and Upper Nile region amid accusations of civilian killings, rape, looting and indiscipline which analysts say could have caused his ouster.

He also played a huge role in the renewed July clash of 2016 that ousted and forced into exile former first vice President Riek Machar having vowed prior to signing of the 2015 peace deal not to block the rebel leader's return to the now transitional unity government.

South Sudan descended into violence in December 2013 after political dispute between President Kiir and his former deputy Machar led to fighting that pitied mostly Dinka ethnic soldiers loyal to Kiir against Machar's Nuer ethnic group.

The 2015 peace agreement to end the violence was again violated in July 2016 when the rival factions resumed fighting in the capital forcing the rebel leader Machar to flee into exile.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 2 million from their homes, and forced more than 1.5 million to flee into neighbouring countries. Endit