Machar fires Olony as sector 1 commander, names Gen. Yak Dayiem as replacement

JUBA — South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has this afternoon issues an order removing General Johnson Olony Thabo as the SPLA-IO sector one commander a day after the opposition commander was named the deputy chairman of Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual who replaced Machar yesterday.

On Tuesday, General Gatwech removed Machar as leader of the main armed opposition group and declared himself the interim chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition accusing Machar of nepotism and betrayal of the movement. He appointed Olony as his deputy.

Speaking to Sudans Post from Juba this afternoon, a senior opposition commander who said he has direct knowledge of a number of changes Machar was making, said Major-General Yak Dayiem has been appointed overnight by Machar as the sector one commander.

“General Johnson Olony has joined the rebellion against the cause of the movement led by renegade General Gatwech Dual and as such there is need for a new leadership of the command to be in place,” the official who requested not to be named said from Juba.

“General Yak Dayiem has now been appointed as the replacement for General Olony. He will be working as the sectorial commander of Upper Nile region with effect from today,” the opposition commander added, on condition of anonymity.