S. Sudan's ex-army chief forms rebel movement

JUBA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan's ex-army chief, Paul Malong, on Monday launched a new armed movement, vowing to reclaim the country and restore peace and order.

The former chief of general staff of the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) said his movement, the South Sudan-United Front (SS-UF), will steer the nation toward democracy and development as the basis of founding a nation.

"Our movement is a just and urgent call to our compatriots and a struggle to first, arrest the carnage that has ensued our country; secondly to steer us towards democracy and development which are the cornerstones of nationhood, an African nationhood of democracy, development, equal citizenry, justice and freedom," the ex-army chief said in a statement issued in Juba.

Malong accused President Salva Kiir of turning the east African nation into a "nest for systemic corruption" that has devastated the lives of all citizens on a daily basis.

The former army chief said through his new movement, he would work with compatriots to establish strong institutions.

"We must build our nationhood around strong institutions and not strongmen," Malong said. "Strong institutions will outlive all of us and guarantee the prosperity of our nation. This is what we yearn for in our country."

Malong accused President Salva Kiir of committing war atrocities, obstruction and violation of a peace agreement.

"In less than a decade the country has become a failed state under the inept leadership of President Salva Kiir," said Malong.

Malong was widely regarded as a key ally of Kiir after he mobilized an ethnic militia to fight for the Kiir administration.

But in May 2017, Malong was sacked and put under house arrest before being allowed to leave the country in November 2017 to seek medical attention in Kenya.

Human rights groups have on several occasions accused Malong and his militia of committing atrocities on civilians across the war-torn country.

The former army chief is also among three South Sudanese officials sanctioned by the United States and Canada last year for allegedly obstructing peace efforts and benefiting from the ongoing civil war.

Earlier, the government accused Malong of rebellion and ordering his followers to attack government position in several parts of the country.

Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny confirmed to Xinhua by phone that the government is fully aware of the ex-army chief forming a new armed faction.

He said Malong had denied being a rebel but within less than two months now he has formed his alliance, confirming the previous charge.

"Malong will be destroying his legacy. He is going to fight against the same army he led in the war since 2013 until the time he was relieved," Ateny said.

South Sudan has been embroiled in four years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people, and creating one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under United Nations pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.

The UN estimates that 4 million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally. Enditem