Rumors to replace General Johnson Olony are unfounded – Machar aide

JUBA – A senior opposition official of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has labeled, as unfounded, rumors that Machar was planning to replace his nominee for governor of Upper Nile state General Johnson Olony.

Rumors have been circulating on social media purporting that the Machar-led movement was considering to replace Olony following his refusal to come to Juba last week after meeting a high-level delegation from the First Vice President.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, Dut Majokdit, a senior opposition official for Northern Bahr el Ghazal state said the reports were untrue and unfounded and that the opposition group stands by its nominee.

“These are unfounded news from the enemies of peace. General Olony is our nominee and the First Vice President, the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief has no any intention to replace General Olony,” Majokdit said on phone from Juba.

“I am here to reiterated that we are for Olony and stands by him,” he asserted.

Disagreement over state ministries

Majokdit also said the former ITGONU and the SPLM-IO have come under a new impasse over three key ministries in three key states. He said the government is saying that they would take the ministry of finance in Western Equatoria state, ministry of local government in Unity state and the ministry of housing & public utilities in Central Equatoria state .

“There is another impasse now. the government is asking for the ministry of finance in Western Equatoria state, ministry of housing and public Utilities in Central Equatoria and Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement in Unity state,” he said.

“You cannot be the governor and give the finance ministry to another party. That has not happened in other states,” Majokdit added.

He also revealed that the government was refusing to share four counties of Parieng, Abiemnom, Pochala and Pibor in the two administrative areas of Ruweng and Pibor.