Kiir reiterates rejection to appoint Olony during Thursday meeting with Machar – official  

JUBA – South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit reiterated on Thursday his rejection of the appointment of SPLM-IO Upper Nile gubernatorial nominee General Johnson Olony Thabo, a senior member of the main armed opposition group has said.

Machar in June had nominated Olony for Upper Nile state, one of the three state allocated to the main armed opposition as per the revitalized peace agreement signed by Machar and Kiir in September 2018.

Kiir who is also a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement rejected to appoint Olony with officials allied to him saying Olony is a warmonger who has not consented to the revitalized peace agreement.

On Thursday, the two men met in the presence of the deputy chairperson of Sudan Sovereign Council General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo to discuss the pending issues of the revitalized transitional government of national unity.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, a senior member of the SPLM-IO said Kiir reiterated his rejection of Olony as governor of Upper Nile state and asked Machar – for the fourth time – to choose a different person for the gubernatorial position.

“President Salva Kiir has rejected again the appointment of General Johnson Olony. He informed the chairman and commander in chief on Thursday when they met in presence of Hemeti,” the official said from Juba on condition of anonymity.

Speaking following the meeting, General Daglo said preparations were underway for the first batch of the unified forces to be graduated, but snubbed a question on Olony’s appointment as governor.