Machar’s SPLM-IO rules out Olony’s replacement

July 18, 2020 News, Newsbeat, South Sudan

Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President and the Chairman of the SPLM/A-IO during an IGAD summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Photo Credit: Nyamilepedia.)

July 18, 2020 (SSNN) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, the SPLM-IO, led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, has ruled out any intention to replace General Johnson Olony Thambo as the SPLM-IO nominee for Upper Nile state governorship.

Machar had last month nominated Olony for the top state position, but President Salva Kiir refused to appoint him due to a complaint raised by the Apadang community of Upper Nile state who claims that Olony’s appointment would jeopardize reconciliation efforts in the state.

Kiir has since asked the SPLM-IO to nominate a different person for the governorship of the state saying the nominee lacks the needed credibility to serve as governor of the oil-rich Upper Nile state.

However, Dut Majokdit, a senior SPLM-IO official, said that the main armed opposition group does not intent to nominate another person apart from General Johnson Olony saying that his nomination is not negotiable.

“There is nothing to be negotiated about our nomination of General Johnson Olony Thambo. The claim by the government that Olony was does not fit is mischief. I repeat, Olony’s nomination is not negotiable,” he said adding that the government was “tactically trying to delay and impede the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.”

Dut further said: “General Johnson Olony cannot come to Juba unless he is appointed. The SPLM-IO has not fully returned to Juba because the implementation of the security arrangements has not been completed. On those who are in Juba are members of peace mechanisms.”