Johnson Olony’s forces declare merger with SPLM-IO
July 1, 2015 (NAIROBI) – A Shilluk community-based forces, known as Aguelek commanded by Major General Johnson Olony, have officially declared their merger and incorporation into the armed opposition forces of the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO), under the leadership of former vice president, Riek Machar.
The declaration stressed the importance of joining forces against president Salva Kiir’s government which they accused of genocide and “slipping the country into abyss.”
“The country is gripped by serious problems (genocide, crimes against humanity, hate, civil war, insecurity, land grabbing, rampant corruption, tribalism and nepotism, spiralling inflation, bad leadership, etc),” partly reads the declaration.
A 4-person committee or delegation from the two sides signed the document in a press conference held in Nairobi on Wednesday. On SPLM-IO side, Henry Odwar, who handles file of engagements with other political groups and forces was the lead signatory to the document while on the Aguelek side, Jukino Fidel Nyikayo, chairperson of the delegation was the lead signatory.
Political and military leaders of the Aguelek forces would now be appointed to various capacities in the SPLM-IO movement per the agreement.
Earlier, the Aguelek delegation carried a letter from their overall force commander, Johnson Olony, to the opposition leader, Riek Machar, declaring his intention to join the rebel movement and mandating his delegation to work out the details of the merger.
Mabior Garang de Mabior, chairman of the rebels’ national committee for information and public relations witnessed the signing ceremony on behalf of the chairman of the movement, Machar.
In his statement, Mabior said the agreement was a major step in accordance with the movement’s policy to engage other political forces in the country.
He accused president Kiir’s government of many violations to the cessation of hostilities agreement and reiterated the SPLM-IO commitment to the peace process to end the war in a peaceful political settlement.
Johnson Olony defected with his forces from the government in April and captured the capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile state, Malakal, and Melut, headquarters of Melut county which is adjacent to the main oilfields of Paloch, in joint operations with SPLA-IO forces before the towns were retaken by the government. On Saturday, the joint forces again recaptured Malakal and have remained in full control of the strategic area.
Meanwhile, Angok Arthur Akuein, son of former Southern Sudan’s minister of finance before independence in 2011, also separately declared his joining the rebel movement during the same occasion in Nairobi.
In his statement Akuein said he decided to join the movement under the leadership of Machar because it carried the needed ideas for reforms in the country.
“Today I declare my utmost support and allegiance to the SPLM/A-IO under the leadership of Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and to all comrades aligned to the historic reformist movement. The SPLM/A-IO has become a matured “idea” of total reforms that will set the platform for a nationwide coalition of political, economic, and social inclusion, which will result to a New South Sudan with secured brighter future for the suffering citizens,” he said.
Akuien who was a youth leader for greater Bahr el Ghazal region, urged the youth in his home region to rise against president Kiir’s government in order to establish a new administration that will implement reforms in the war-ravaged nation.
(ST)