Olony is now a confirmed SSPDF commander – official  

JUBA, JUNE 10, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan opposition commander and leader of the Agwelek faction, General Johnson Olony Thabo, is no longer a rebel commander, but a senior officer of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF), a spokesman allied to him said.

Joseph Paulo Ngor, the spokesman of Agwelek faction, told Sudans Post this afternoon that Olony met the SSPDF chief of defense forces General Santino Deng Wol on Friday and has been declared a commander of the South Sudan army.

“Yesterday, the chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) Kitgwang General Johnson Olony Thabo and his deputy General Thomas Mabor Dhol met with the chief of defense forces General Santino Deng Wol,” he said.

“The outcome of the meeting which was held in Bilpam is that the chief of defense forces has declared all senior officers of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang as SSPDF officers effective from yesterday and that what is remaining is the assignment of the officers and the integration of the soldiers,” he added.

The senior opposition official said that the meeting also discussed tactics that would be used by the army to preserve peace in Upper Nile region which has suffered from the devastating effects of the war which broke out in December 2013.

“They have discussed the integration of the forces and how to benefit from the experience of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang tactics to preserve peace and prevent the return of Upper Nile State to the time of wares,” Paula further added.