SPLM-IO condemns ‘unreasonable’ calls for Administrative area in Upper Nile state

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, SPLM-IO, has condemned what it calls unreasonable call by the Upper Nile state’s Apadang community for a separate Administrative Area in the far north oil-rich state.

In recent months, Apadang community has been calling for a separate Administrative Area in Upper Nile state if General Johnson Olony, a controversial opposition commander nominated by SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar Teny for governorship of Upper Nile state, is to be appointed governor.

Olony was nominated for governor by Machar on June 24 last year, but President Salva Kiir Mayardit has refused to appoint him, saying the opposition commander is a warmonger who he said will complicate reconciliatory efforts meant to bring together the bitter Upper Nile state communities.

In a statement to Sudans Post on Saturday Dut Majokdit, a senior SPLM-IO member of the National Liberation Council (NLC) said those advocating for an administrative area in Upper Nile should stop the move saying it is a violation of the revitalized peace agreement saying the move amount to a ploy to frustrate the implementation of the agreement.

“Those who are advocating for unreasonable creation of Apadang Administrative Area in Upper Nile State should immediately forget about that move, it’s a subtle violations of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. There is no ground to Reject Olony it’s the lack of political will to frustrate the whole thing by what so call SPLM-IG,” he said.

“I don’t know what is delaying the appointment of General Johnson Olony since that the SPLM-IG or the ITGONU took the state Deputy Governor from SSOA in exchange for two State Ministerial Portfolios,” the senior opposition official added.

He further urged for the immediate appointment of General Johnson Olony Thabo, “instead of wasting time to participate in the upcoming Conference in Juba.”