South Sudan's ousted army chief says no retaliation in mind

Published May 23, 2017

South Sudan's newly appointed army chief of staff Lt. Gen. James Ajongo Mawut speaks to the media in Juba, South Sudan Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Former 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, was removed from his post on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol) (The Associated Press)

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FILE - In this Thursday, July 9, 2015 file photo, South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, center, is accompanied by army chief of staff Paul Malong, right, as they attend 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, was removed from his post on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. (AP Photo/Jason Patinkin, File) (The Associated Press)

South Sudan's newly appointed army chief of staff Lt. Gen. James Ajongo Mawut, left, meets with Vice-President James Wani Igga, center, and President Salva Kiir, right, at the presidential palace in Juba, South Sudan Wednesday, May 10, 2017. Former 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, was removed from his post on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Samir Bol) (The Associated Press)

South Sudan's ousted army chief of staff says he has nothing to retaliate for, even as his abrupt removal put the military on alert after months of government infighting.

Paul Malong also rejected accusations of directing ethnic violence in the East African nation, saying "we don't fight a meaningless war."

The hardliner Malong was removed Tuesday. The United States last year led a failed effort for United Nations sanctions on him, saying he had violated the country's 2015 peace agreement.

Malong tells The Associated Press he now wants to live a simple life at home. He and President Salva Kiir are both ethnic Dinka and he says it is not in the Dinka culture to fight each other.

Malong's replacement, Gen. James Ajongo Mawut, says the country's situation is normal.

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