General Olony will be appointed today – defense minister  

KHARTOUM – South Sudan’s defense minister Angelina Teny has informed General Johnson Olony Thabo that he may be appointed governor of the oil-rich Upper Nile state today, according to a senior opposition official in Khartoum.

Teny who has been in Khartoum since Tuesday met General Olony on Thursday and discussed the establishment of state government in Upper Nile.

Speaking to Sudans Post this morning, a senior opposition official said on condition of anonymity that General Olony was initially asked by Teny to accompany her and her delegation back to Juba, but said he had some preparations that he would first ran before going to Juba.

“General Johnson Olony was going to return to Juba today with the minister of defense,” the official said. “But because he has some family issues that he want to do before he travels, he told the minister of defense to come later.”

The opposition official further said Teny has informed Olony that he may be appointed today by the President.

“The honorable minister of defense has informed him that his appointment may take place today or on Monday. But what I understands so far is that he will be appointed today,” the official said.

The latest development regarding the SPLM-IO-SPLM-IG dispute over the Upper Nile state gubernatorial nominee comes two days after deputy finance minister Agok Makur Kur told Sudans Post in an exclusive interview that President Salva Kiir Mayardit has consented to Olony’s appointment.

The parties last week agreed to the division of local and state government positions among themselves, ending worries over formation of the state governments.