Kiir agrees to appoint Olony as Upper Nile state governor – deputy minister

JUBA – South Sudan President, Salva Kiir Mayardit has agreed to appoint General Johnson Olony Thabo as governor of Upper Nile state, after several months of deadlock over Olony’s nomination by the SPLM-IO, according to a senior government official.

Olony, a controversial opposition commander in Upper Nile state, was nominated by SPLM-IO leader and South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny on June 24 along with two other governors.

However, President Kiir refused to appoint him, accusing the one-time ally of being a warmonger who, according to his own words, would undermine reconciliation efforts in the oil-rich Upper Nile state.

Speaking to Sudans Post from Khartoum on Tuesday, Agok Makur Kur, South Sudan’s deputy finance minister said he met General Johnson Olony over the weekend on the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and to inform him that President Salva Kiir will appoint him soon.

“I came to Sudan and met General Johnson Olony, the Upper Nile state’s gubernatorial nominee,” Makur said.

“We discussed a range of issues including the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement and particularly the situation in Upper Nile state. I informed him that President Salva Kiir will soon appoint him and the nation is awaiting a presidential decree for his appointment,” he added without saying when he will be appointed.

Separately, a senior opposition official in Juba told Sudans Post on condition of anonymity that President Salva Kiir Mayardit has consented to Olony’s nomination and he will soon be appointed.

“Yes that is true that H.E the President of teh Republic of South Sudan Salva Kiir Mayardit has agreed to appoint General Johnson Olony as governor in the coming days,” the opposition official who warned against naming him said.

“So, we can say that there is peace commitment from President Salva Kiir’s side as we do exactly. General Johnson Olony is not a spoiler and I am sure he will reconcile the people of Upper Nile state,” he added.