South Sudan rebels appoint Johnson Olony’s official as governor of Fashoda state
July 2, 2015 (NAIROBI) – South Sudan’s former vice president, Riek Machar, and leader of the armed opposition faction of the ruling SPLM, has appointed a senior official of the ethnic Shilluk-based forces in the oil-rich Upper Nile state as governor of Fashoda state, home to Shilluk kingdom, and one of the 21 newly created federal states.
Jukino Fidel Nyikayo, was appointed on Thursday, with effect from 2 July, a day after he signed a merger declaration with the rebel faction.
“Pursuant to 6-12 December 2014 Pagak conference resolutions, I, Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM/SPLA, hereby appoint Cde Jukino Fidel Nyikayo as Governor of Fashoda State,” reads the order extended to Sudan Tribune.
Nyikayo led the delegation sent to the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, by their leader, Major General Johnson Olony, who gave them full mandate to negotiate the agreement and probably recommended him for the appointment.
On 1 July the two groups merged by signing the declaration under the Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) led by Machar.
General Olony whose forces have been in full control of the state capital, Malakal, since Saturday when they flushed out government troops from the area, defected in April from the government.
Another order by the rebel leadership relieved their previously appointed governor of the area,, Tijwok Hadhir Aguet, also former presidential advisor on religious affairs, and from the Shilluk community.
(ST)