President of South Sudan, Salva Kiir has declined to appoint SPLM-IO’s nominee General Johnson Olony as governor of Upper Nile state. General Johnson Olony is a commander of Agwelek division of SPLA-IO.
The president’s spokesman, Ateny Wek Ateny, told radio tamazuj on Thursday. Ateny Wek Ateny confirmed the rejection of the nomination saying General Olony has violated provisions of the peace agreement which provide that all forces are to be cantoned and trained in order to create a unified army.
“We want peace to prevail in the country, so we cannot appoint someone who wants to spoil the peace. Olony is still in the bush and his forces have not yet gone to the cantonment sites,” said Ateny Wek. “Johnson Olony has set some conditions. He wants to come back to Juba with 2,000 forces, which is a violation of the peace agreement.
Ateny says the president’s side has requested the SPLM-IO to select a different candidate to fill the position of Upper Nile state governor. “General Olony will not be appointed as governor because he is a warmonger,” said Ateny.
Riek Machar’s party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) was given three states, including Upper Nile state.
South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) – a third party to the September 2018 peace agreement has been given Jonglei state.
Mabior Garang de Mabior, a spokesperson of Machar’s SPLM-IO, confirmed they had nominated General Johnson to be appointed as governor of Upper Nile state but President Kiir declined to appoint him. Mabior said First Vice President Riek Machar will meet President Kiir to discuss the nomination of General Johnson Olony.