the raid, claiming that the fighting had actually been caused by internal disputes within the SPLA. SPLM-IO deputy spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel argued that the fighters involved in the clashes were not formally part of the SPLM-IO, and that the government was trying to deflect attention from its own ceasefire violations of December 2017. The spokesman also falsely claimed that Chan Garang had not left his base since defecting to the insurgents.

After Malong was released from house arrest and organized the South Sudan United Front