Renegade General Johnson Olony, leader of the Agwelek Faction, is set to make a significant political move by traveling to Juba, the capital of South Sudan. According to his spokesperson, Major General Yusif Paulo Ngor, preparations for the trip have been completed, and General Olony arrived in Malakal Town in Upper Nile State on Saturday. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, his departure was postponed until Sunday morning.
General Olony’s visit to Juba holds strategic importance as he aims to meet President Salva Kiir to discuss the implementation of an agreement previously signed in Khartoum. Major General Ngor emphasized their readiness to fulfill the agreed protocols and assured that General Olony would remain in Juba until the agreement is successfully put into action.
The political journey of General Olony has been eventful. Initially defecting from the government to safeguard the interests of the Chollo (Shilluk) people in Upper Nile State, he later joined Dr. Riek Machar’s SPLM/A-IO. Dr. Machar nominated him as governor of Upper Nile State under the 2018 revitalized peace agreement, but President Kiir rejected the nomination, citing concerns about Olony’s tendencies toward warfare.
Subsequently, a faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual declared a leadership change within the SPLM/A-IO, appointing General Olony as his deputy and issuing the Kitgwang Declaration. However, the Kitgwang faction became dissatisfied with the government’s failure to implement the peace agreement, leading to clashes between their forces and Olony’s forces.
Despite these internal conflicts, General Olony expressed his commitment to peace and his willingness to engage with Juba. His upcoming visit is the result of extensive negotiations between his faction and the government, indicating a potential turning point in South Sudan’s political landscape.
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