CONFLICTS

South Sudan says divisive army chief of staff removed

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE - In this Thursday, July 9, 2015 file photo, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, accompanied by army chief of staff Paul Malong, right, waves during an independence day ceremony in the capital Juba, South Sudan. South Sudan's army chief of staff Paul Malong, who had been proposed for U.N. sanctions and accused of directing last year's fighting in the capital that left hundreds dead, has been removed from his post, a presidential spokesman said Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Thursday, July 9, 2015 file photo, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, accompanied by army chief of staff Paul Malong, right, waves during an independence day ceremony in the capital Juba, South Sudan. South Sudan's army chief of staff Paul Malong, who had been proposed for U.N. sanctions and accused of directing last year's fighting in the capital that left hundreds dead, has been removed from his post, a presidential spokesman said Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Thursday, July 9, 2015 file photo, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, left, accompanied by army chief of staff Paul Malong, right, waves during an independence day ceremony in the capital Juba, South Sudan. South Sudan's army chief of staff Paul Malong, who had been proposed for U.N. sanctions and accused of directing last year's fighting in the capital that left hundreds dead, has been removed from his post, a presidential spokesman said Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin, File) (The Associated Press)

A South Sudan presidential spokesman says the army chief of staff has been removed from his post. Paul Malong had been accused of directing fighting in the capital in July that left hundreds dead.

Ateny Wek Ateny told The Associated Press on Tuesday that Malong was removed because he had been in charge for over three years. Ateny called that a violation of army rules.

The spokesman says Lt. Gen. James Ajongo Mawut has been named to replace Malong.

Malong did not answer repeated attempts for comment.

His removal comes after ethnic violence in South Sudan's civil war has dramatically increased. It also follows months of government infighting.

The United States led efforts to impose United Nations sanctions on Malong for violating the country's peace agreement, but the attempt failed.