Gen. Olony returns to Juba for the first time since 2013

JUBA, MAY 14, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan opposition commander and leader of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang Agwelek faction Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo on Sunday returned to Juba after departing it more nearly ten years ago and reiterated his commitment for peace.

Olony who signed an agreement with President Salva Kiir Mayardit in January last year arrived in Juba from Malakal where his Juba return was delayed for at least a day following his arrival from northern Upper Nile state where he was stationed with his troops.

Speaking to reporters following his arrival at Juba International Airport, Olony reiterated his commitment to the implementation to the agreement dubbed officially as Khartoum Peace Agreement and revealed that he has returned to the capital Juba with at least 200 soldiers.

“I am happy to be back and happy with the warm reception. I came back because of the peace agreement we signed. The agreement had no other witnesses except Tut Gatluak, Akol Koor, President Salva Kiir Mayardit and myself,” the opposition commander turned Kiir ally told reporters.

“I am here for peace. I was supposed to come back in the past few days, but I was a bit busy handling some things. Salva Kiir has allowed me to come to Juba with 200 soldiers. If I were not serious about peace, he would not have allowed me to come with 200 soldiers, so I came back with 200 soldiers,” he added.

Olony revealed that he was born and grew up in Juba and called on the citizens of Upper Nile region to embrace peace.

“I grew up here in Juba, and it is a city for all of us. I have come to join hands with President Salva Kiir to work together, and God willing; the country will not return to war again,” he said.

“I have come with my deputy Gen. Thomas Mabor, Beny Moun and other senior officers. Hopefully, after five days, we will return to Malakal and mobilize the youth and other citizens so that we work with the state and national governments so that Malakal also grows like Juba,” he added.

“PEACEFUL” UPPER NILE

For his part, President Kiir’s security advisor Tut Gatluak Manimeh declared end of war in Upper Nile and called on the citizens who are in the UN protection of civilians camps in the region to come out and join their brothers living outside to promote peace.

“Today, Johnson Olony and his officers are back to Juba on the invitation of President Salva Kiir. He is in Juba to meet the president and follow up on the security arrangements and the peace agreement,” he said.

“We want to tell our people in Upper Nile State that Upper Nile is now peaceful and all those who are in refugee and IDP camps can now go back to Upper Nile and rebuild their lives. We are committed to the implementation of the peace agreement,” he added.

Olony left Juba following the outbreak of war in 2013 and fought alongside the government until his defection in 2015 to join the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM_IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

A government attempt to lure him to Juba ahead of his defection resulted into deadly clashes between his forces and those of the government, leading to fall of Malakal to opposition hands for the last time.