Lucy Ayak Malek:"Mr. President, release my husband to go for medical help.”

Wife of the former South Sudanese chief of General Staff Paul Malong Awan calls for the release of her husband who is held at his house in Juba. Paul Malong was relieved from his position in May 2017. Few hours after the abrupt replacement with Ajongo Mawut by the President, Malong left Juba with his bodyguards toward Aweil. Malong was persuaded by Bor Philip to return to Juba and he spoke to President Kiir who gave the assurance for his security. Since then, Malong has not been allowed to leave Juba to his village or seek medical help outside South Sudan. The situation forced one of his wives to petition the Government. We manage to interview Lucy Ayak while in Nairobi-Kenya for a first time on SBS Dinka Radio.

Photo of General Malong and his wife Lucy Source: Supplied

"I personally talked with President Kiir to release General Paul Malong to seek medical attention because his blood pressure levels were getting worse. President Kiir assured me that 'he has to reasons to keep while he was sick' but no action after communication. Even now, General Malong and President Kiir still communicate but why Malong is not allowed to go to Aweil to his family or to seek medical help remain a misery and that is a reason I wrote the petition. Ateny Wek Ateny accused me of 'seeking international attention with Malong story' but what he doesn't know; I am talking about the life of my husband. I am his wife and I should be the one with real knowledge about his wellbeing. I know the President and Paul Malong are best friends but leaving him to suffer while in doors could lead to the bad thing happening to him and his family will be the one to be affected. Technically, Malong is not arrested but he has been restricted. He used to go out to visit or see friends but would trigger him being followed by military vehicles. His compound is surrounded and those who are going to see him are subjected to serious check and scrutiny. I still do believe president and Malong are friends with the same ambitious and love for South Sudan. Malong children and wives are based at Werawar and he would love to go back to his village and stay with the family. Malong understands that president has an absolute power to employ him and relieve. This was the time he should be considered a private citizen and be given time to spend with his family or go for any medical check at his own will.