Olony expected in Juba
The ink may have dried on the newly signed political deal between the SPLM-IG and the SPLA-IO Kit Gwang faction, which came at an unprecedented time. But the development that sent tongues wagging and elicited mixed reactions from Dr Riek Machar’s SPLA-IO and activists promises even more debate and dilemma.
For example, SPLM-IG granted the leaders of the Kit Gwang faction amnesty to come to Juba amid other recommendations for the integration of forces. However, it remains a ‘wait and see’ scenario whether some of the recommendations will actually be implemented to set the ball rolling for newfound friendship.
Although President Kiir showed commitment to the call and granted the amnesty, eyes are now focused on the Agwelek leader, Gen Olony, who has never stepped foot in Juba since the 2018 revitalised peace deal that gave birth to the incumbent Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU).
Though it is not known yet when Gen. Olony and his followers will arrive in Juba, Kiir’s amnesty means the government and the people of South Sudan would now look forward to welcoming Kit-Gwang leaders’ positive response to bringing lasting peace in the country as suggested by the parties to Sunday’s deal.
“The [failure] of Olony to turn to Juba timely may put the fate of the deal under question since he in the past refused to come to Juba in fear of his safety and security. “We hope that the recently declared amnesty by H.E. President will be accepted by Olony,” said Edmund Yakani the Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation.
“The fate of the recent Khartoum peace deal between Kit-Gwang and SPLM-IG, Agwelek and SSDPF deals, their success is much determined by the change of political attitude of Gen. Johnson Olony. This refers to the level of trust and confidence Gen. Olony has for partnering with SPLM-IG,” he said.
The deal
President Salva Kiir on Monday granted amnesty to the Kit-Gwang group in compliance with the first recommendations in the SPLM-IG and SPLM/A-IO Kit-Gwang peace deal signed in Khartoum.
The amnesty also marked the beginning of the implementation of the peace agreement signed between the two parties.
The move would also pave way for the leaders of the faction, especially Gen. Johnson Olony Thubo, to return home to continue with the implementation of the rest of the provisions of the deal.
The agreement, which triggered wide criticism, had two documents. One of them bore the signatures of Gen Akol Koor Kuc, the Internal Security Bureau on behalf of the government, and Gen. Johnson Olony, Chairman of Agwelek Forces on behalf of the Kit Gwang faction.
The document stipulates that the Cholo area’s boundaries to be according to the 1/1/1956, the communities of Upper Nile to engage in dialogue, and individuals’ immovable assets to be returned to the rightful owners.
It also stated that Agwelek forces would be disengaged immediately and peacefully, remaining independent of the SPLM/A-IO mainstream forces and the SSPDF. The Agwelek forces are also to respect the ceasefire and immediately integrate into SSPDF.
Again, the document states that the leader and Agwelek forces will be granted amnesty within a week and that a minimum of 500 police officers will be deployed in Kit-Gwang/Magenis to provide security.
Who is Gen. Olony?
Olony and soldiers loyal to him came to South Sudan from Sudan in June 2013 after accepting a presidential pardon and integrated into the then SPLA in mid to late 2013
However, in 2015, fighting broke out in Malakal between forces loyal to Olony and those protecting the Upper Nile State government after he violated an order to report to Juba
The opposing groups of government soldiers in the Upper Nile state fought for three days, prompting the defence minister to travel to the region in a bid to defuse the situation.
Later, Gen. Olony decided to join the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) under the First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and he remained a separate leader of Agwelek Forces—a Shilluk community-based militia group.
When the 2018 peace deal was signed, Gen. Olony was nominated governor of Upper Nile State by Dr Machar on the ticket of SPLM-IO, but President Kiir objected to his nomination, demanding he come to Juba before his appointment.
After several callings on him to return to Juba as a prerequisite to his appointment, the president then considered Gen. Olony a “warmonger” who was now unsuitable to the power-sharing arrangement by President Kiir.
In August last year, Gen Olony and his boss Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, Chairperson of Kit-Gwang group split from SPLM/A-IO mainstream and claimed the leadership of the organisation from Dr. Machar.
Gen. Gatwech and Gen. Olony accused their former boss of nepotism, corruption, and failure to adhere to the vision and mission of the SPLM/A-IO and also to implement the security arrangement.
Since their split, the mainstream SPLA-IO and Kit-Gwang SPLA-IO have traded accusations of attacking each other’s positions in Magenis with both losing generals despite claiming victory.
In October, President Kiir initiated dialogue with the splinter group, which resulted in Sunday’s deal in the Sudan capital, Khartoum.
