The chairman of the newly formed armed resistance movement South Sudan United Front/Army Paul Malong Awan has denied unveiling a leadership structure of his new movement launched on Monday, saying consultations were ongoing.

General Malong, according to his wife Lucy Ayak Malek, has not named the movement's leadership structure. He dismissed reports of appointing former Fangak governor James Kok Ruei as his deputy while former ambassador to Russia federation, Telar Ring Deng as the movement's secretary for external relations.

Former deputy information minister Akol Paul Kordit according to the report is named as secretary for political affairs but in his social media account denied any involvement with the new movement saying the reports were false.

Other officials named include Dut Yai Anyar as the chief intelligence, Akok Malek as the financial affairs officer and Lucy Ayak Malek as the deputy secretary for external relations.

 In a statement released to the public on Tuesday, Ayak denied the authenticity of the reports, saying consultations were being conducted before a leadership structure is unveiled.

 “I want to inform friends, relatives and the general public to disregard the information about formation of the leadership. Disregard it,” said Ayak.

She said the former army chief was forced to form a rebellion after several attempts to reconcile him with President Salva Kiir and his government were frustrated.

“Every attempt, both public and private to engage the Kiir regime towards peace has been flatly manipulated by regime apologists and those who spearhead the peace effort put on the hit list. Anyone who mentions the need for peaceful engagement is branded an enemy of the state and is targeted for extra-judicial assassination,” explained Ayak in a statement released to the public on Monday.