By Deng Athian
Former Member of Parliament Ajok Wol Atak has publicly rejected allegations that she betrayed her husband, Gen. Paul Malong Awan, or played any role in his political and military activities.
She cited that she was never involved in the opposition movement he later led.
In a statement released on Saturday, Ajok broke her silence for the first time since the political fallout that followed Malong’s departure from South Sudan in 2018.
She said years of speculation and accusations had compelled her to set the record straight.
“I was never a member of any political movement,” Ajok said. “I was simply his wife and the mother of our children. While we shared a family, our political ideologies were different.”
Ajok recalled learning about reports linking her husband to a rebellion on April 9, 2018, after receiving a phone call from an Al Jazeera journalist seeking confirmation.
“I swear before God that I knew nothing about it at the time,” she said, explaining that she had been away from home at a hospital when the reports emerged. “My response was simple: I was not the right person to confirm that information.”
According to Ajok, the events that followed created tension within the family, as she faced accusations from different quarters. Some alleged that she opposed Malong’s movement, while others claimed she was collaborating with government security agencies.
“Every day reports and accusations were being brought forward,” she said. “The situation created fear, insecurity, and suspicion.”
The former legislator said the breakdown in trust eventually led her to leave the family home.
“I told my husband that since trust between us had disappeared, I would leave so that he could have peace of mind,” she said. “I could not continue living in an environment where every action was questioned.”
Ajok said Malong accepted the decision, acknowledging the difficulties their relationship was facing at the time.
She later travelled to Dubai, a move that she said generated further speculation and unfounded claims.
“People claimed I had gone to meet security agencies and other groups,” she said. “Those accusations were painful because they were not true.”
Reflecting on the period, Ajok described it as one of the most difficult chapters of her life.
“I suffered greatly,” she said. “Even when we were in the same house, neither of us could sleep peacefully because trust had been lost.”
Upon returning to South Sudan, she said, the criticism and allegations continued.
“For seven years, I found myself fighting battles from every direction,” she said. “Some of Gen. Malong’s friends fought me, some of his enemies fought me, and my own enemies joined in as well.”
Ajok maintained that she never participated in the activities, decision-making, or political agenda of the South Sudan United Front/Army (SSUF/A), the opposition movement associated with Malong.
“Those who know the truth can testify that I was never involved in the movement’s political agenda,” she said. “I remained outside politics despite the assumptions many people made.”
She said her decision to speak publicly was driven by a desire to correct what she described as years of misinformation.
“I am not speaking out of bitterness,” Ajok said. “I am speaking because history should be based on facts, not rumors.”
“My conscience is clear,” she added. “I leave judgment to God and to those who value the truth.”
The statement marks Ajok’s first detailed public account of the circumstances surrounding her separation from Malong and the allegations that have followed her since 2018.