JUBA, NOV. 4, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s controversial opposition commander and leader of the Agwelek faction of the SPLM-IO Kitgwang General Johnson Olony Thabo has reiterated his intentions of not going back to the bush and admitted to destroying Upper Nile state.
Speaking at a preparatory rally organized by the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) faction led by President Salva Kiir Mayardit to endorse Kiir for president in the Greater Upper Nile region, General Olony said he will not return back to the bush.
“I accept to be with you, and no one will return to the bush,” he said. “If I return to the bush, that will be us all, not me alone. Now the king is here near me. Some calls him King of Shilluk but he is king of South Sudan all, not king of Shilluk only.”
The senior opposition commander said that South Sudan’s problems usually start in Upper Nile state and said admitted that he and others destroyed Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state, and promised to rebuild it.
“All the problems of South Sudan start from Upper Nile. Last time I was called that you Johnson don’t go anywhere come to Juba to stay with your President Salva Kiir and your brothers in South Sudan people like Tutkew [Gatluak] and Akol Koor so we make peace and people return to Malakal,” he said.
“It is us who destroyed Malakal and it is us who will rebuild it again,” he added.
Olony is a notorious military general who is under international sanctions. He joined the SPLA in 2013 after having been in the rebellion for several years. In 2015, his deputy was killed by pro-government militia groups outside Malakal.
This incident led to his defection to the SPLA-IO under First Vice President Riek Machar where he was appointed as the military governor of Upper Nile State. Machar nominated him to the position of the Upper Nile governor as part of the revitalized peace agreement.
After year of rejection by President Kiir, Olony and SPLA-IO chief of staff General Simon Gatwech Dual tried to remove Machar at Magenis, northern Upper Nile state, from the leadership of the main armed opposition group leading to deadly infighting that resulted in the killing of hundreds of opposition soldiers.
He however broke ranks with Gatwech in early 2022 and afterword signed a peace agreement with President Salva Kiir paving way for his return to Juba in May this year. The agreement provides for integration of his forces into the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
At the time of his return to Juba, Olony reiterated his commitment to the implementation to the agreement dubbed officially as Khartoum Peace Agreement and revealed that he returned to the capital with about 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,” he told reporters at the time.
“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.
