Former militia leader denies commanding separate army in Malakal
April 6, 2015 (JUBA) – A former rebel leader now fighting alongside forces loyal to South Sudanese president Salva Kiir has denied commanding a separate army in Upper Nile state capital Malakal following the death of his deputy commander in tribal clashes.
In statement extended to Sudan Tribune on Monday, Maj. General Johnson Olony said that clashes between Dinka and Shilluk youth in Upper Nile state never involved his forces.
Olony’s deputy, Major General Gen. James Bwogo Oliny, and like Olony is a member of minority Shilluk tribe, was killed five days ago by armed youth hailing from the Dinka tribe.
Olony, who joined the South Sudanese army (SPLA) in November 2013 following a presidential amnesty, described the killing as “accidental”.
He accused rebel forces under Riek Machar of distorting the clashes between rival youths in the state by falsely claiming it was the result of in-fighting among the SPLA.
“I have to make some clarifications because the media reported distorted facts in regard to the Chollo (Shilluk) youth and made an impression that the Shilluk youth are [an] armed group commanded by me,” he said.
Olony admitted that “differences” existed between the Shilluk youths who clashed with the Dinka and SPLA forces under his command, but declined to elaborate further.
He maintained that the forces he commands are SPLA forces and not a separate militia group from the Shilluk tribe as alleged.
Bwogo was killed at Lul bridge, between Malakal and Akoka county on 1 April.
Olony said his second-in-command was responding to reports of clashes between Shilluk and Dinka youths “with an honest intention of stopping the clashes”.
He said Bwogo was ambushed by Dinka youth who mistook him for the leader of the Shilluk youth.
“The Dinka youth didn’t know that the one they attacked was the SPLA major general. They thought he was part of the Shilluk youth who fought them earlier,” said Olony in his first public statement since the incident.
Olony said he had since met with an investigation team dispatched by the SPLA to Upper Nile over the weekend.
He claimed that the SPLA is maintaining law and order between the rival youth groups and no clashes have been reported for the past 24 hours.
“The road linking Malakal and Akoka county has been reopened and the traders and people have started using Lul bridge,” he said, adding that forces under his command had been deployed to maintain security in the area.
“The two groups of youth have so far observed peace and tranquility,” he said.
In apparent show of continued loyalty to the Kiir-led government, Olony claimed Machar was deliberately misleading the public in relation to the incident.
(ST)