Johnson Olony’s forces declare merger with SPLM-IO
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July 1, 2015 (NAIROBI) – A Shilluk community-based forces, known as
Aguelek commanded by Major General Johnson Olony, have officially
declared their merger and incorporation into the armed opposition
forces of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), under the
leadership of former vice president, Riek Machar.
JPEG - 38.9 kb
Former rebel leader Johnson Olony speaks to the press upon arrival at
Juba international airport on 13 June 2013 (ST)
The declaration for the merger was signed on Wednesday in the Kenyan
capital, Nairobi, by officials from both sides after 7 days of
engagement over the details of the agreement.
The declaration stressed the importance of joining forces against
president Salva Kiir’s government which they accused of genocide and
“slipping the country into abyss.”
“The country is gripped by serious problems (genocide, crimes against
humanity, hate, civil war, insecurity, land grabbing, rampant
corruption, tribalism and nepotism, spiralling inflation, bad
leadership, etc),” partly reads the declaration.
A 4-person committee or delegation from the two sides signed the
document in a press conference held in Nairobi on Wednesday. On
SPLM-IO side, Henry Odwar, who handles file of engagements with other
political groups and forces was the lead signatory to the document
while on the Aguelek side, Jukino Fidel Nyikayo, chairperson of the
delegation was the lead signatory.
Political and military leaders of the Aguelek forces would now be
appointed to various capacities in the SPLM-IO movement per the
agreement.
Earlier, the Aguelek delegation carried a letter from their overall
force commander, Johnson Olony, to the opposition leader, Riek Machar,
declaring his intention to join the rebel movement and mandating his
delegation to work out the details of the merger.
Mabior Garang de Mabior, chairman of the rebels’ national committee
for information and public relations witnessed the signing ceremony on
behalf of the chairman of the movement, Machar.
In his statement, Mabior said the agreement was a major step in
accordance with the movement’s policy to engage other political forces
in the country.
He accused president Kiir’s government of many violations to the
cessation of hostilities agreement and reiterated the SPLM-IO
commitment to the peace process to end the war in a peaceful political
settlement.
Johnson Olony defected with his forces from the government in April
and captured the capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile state, Malakal,
and Melut, headquarters of Melut county which is adjacent to the main
oilfields of Paloch, in joint operations with SPLA-IO forces before
the towns were retaken by the government. On Saturday, the joint
forces again recaptured Malakal and have remained in full control of
the strategic area.
Meanwhile, Angok Arthur Akuein, son of former Southern Sudan’s
minister of finance before independence in 2011, also separately
declared his joining the rebel movement during the same occasion in
Nairobi.
In his statement Akuein said he decided to join the movement under the
leadership of Machar because it carried the needed ideas for reforms
in the country.
“Today I declare my utmost support and allegiance to the SPLM/A-IO
under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and to all comrades
aligned to the historic reformist movement. The SPLM/A-IO has become a
matured “idea” of total reforms that will set the platform for a
nationwide coalition of political, economic, and social inclusion,
which will result to a New South Sudan with secured brighter future
for the suffering citizens,” he said.
Akuien who was a youth leader for greater Bahr el Ghazal region, urged
the youth in his home region to rise against president Kiir’s
government in order to establish a new administration that will
implement reforms in the war-ravaged nation.
(ST)
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2 July 08:06, by Mi diit
Great!!! General Johnson Olony’s weapons he conned from Malong
Awan helped a lot. This war is about weapons. Dr. Machar should bring
weapons if he wants to force Kiir out. Fighters are there but without
weapons you can’t fight with your bare hands against tanks and
helicopter gunships.
repondre message
2 July 08:28, by Kiir
Salva Kiir have no visions. He is a center of corruption.
repondre message
2 July 08:56, by Lotodo Awino Odug
It is real sad for SPLA units who took the town for free
failed to deployed and secured the town surroundings. How could
veteran units, got flushed out of the town so easily by shilluk’s
children who were only trained for three weeks. sad indeed!.
repondre message
2 July 08:42, by Clausewitz
War is never only about weapons. If it was, you would have
defeated the SPLM in 91 when you allied with Khartoum. You had a
numerically superior force with fighter jets, bombers, rocket
artillery and helicopter gunships and yet you still failed.
repondre message
2 July 08:45, by Clausewitz
Do you really think that the weapons that Khartoum might
provide you are going to make people surrender to Riek when people
didn’t surrender to fighter jets, bombers, rocket artillery, 100, 000
SAF troops, 70, 000 PDF militiamen, 50, 000 of Paulino Matip’s Arab
slaves and militiamen from Gabriel Gatwec Tanginy, Gordon Kong and
many others?
repondre message
2 July 16:45, by Mi diit
Rommel (Clausewitz),
As somebody said two weeks ago, you are just arguing
for the sake of loving to argue senselessly. If weapons do not play
greater role in war, why didn’t you capture Juba, Malakal, Wau, etc.
for 21 years? Tell your SPLA to fight with only klashnikovs if the
white army will not chase them like rats. America had military
superiority over Iraq in 1991 because of weapons.
repondre message
2 July 08:38, by chuol
Congratulations to Gen:Johnson Olony ( Aguelek) for clear version
to joint SPLM-IO. It’s a time for reformist to get united and fight
young nation’s dictator government.
repondre message
2 July 08:46, by Lotodo Awino Odug
bullshit, all of you will be humiliated to last bone, don’t
let you little high from the capture of Malakal fool you.it will be
retaken and of you hopeless militias will go back to your hiding spot
of Addis.
repondre message
2 July 09:51, by chuol
Those who think Malakal will be retaking from SPLA-IO/ Aguelek’
are not wisely put their statement! All reformists are connexion
together and well equipped this time, just surrender or accept peace>
repondre message
2 July 10:14, by Mapuor
Nyagats fought the SPLA in 1991 and were defeated.Chollo/Dr Riek
coalition is not new. They will soon surrender in the same way they
did in 2002.Greater Upper Nile towns will turn into bushes where
hyenas will stay. Let Nyagats enjoy displacement and destitution,
those are their reforms. Sons of thieves are joining them. Who does
not know Athor Akuen?
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