SPLM-IO confirms Olony promoted himself, still communicating with Machar

 JUBA – South Sudan’s Minister of Defense and senior member of SPLM/A-IO, Angelina Teny admitted on Friday that the controversial opposition commander, General Johnson Olony Thabo has promoted himself to the rank of First Lieutenant General.

The opposition commander was previously nominated for governor of the oil-rich Upper Nile state by SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny, but President Kiir rejected his appointment because he is a ‘warmonger’.

Machar was then forced to appoint Abudhok Ayang, a well-known Olony critic from the opposition commander’s Chollo tribe.

“With regard to Gen. Olony, yes, he did promote himself and he is in communication with the chairman of the SPLA-IO,” Teny told reporters on Friday during a press conference in Bilpam.

She said Gen. Olony is yet to declare his intention of promoting himself with the knowledge of the SPLA-IO commander-in-chief, Dr. Riek Machar.

“He is in communication and he did promote himself but his intention is only for him to declare, I can’t go on speculation,” she said.