Jonglei State Offensive and a Controversial Directive
In a speech in Poktap, Duk County, General Johnson Olony instructed his forces to “spare no lives,” including the elderly, as they prepared for a major offensive in South Sudan’s volatile Jonglei state. Observers said the language immediately raised concern in a region scarred by violence.
Frontline Deployments Against SPLA-IO in Lou Nuer Areas
Olony, who commands the Agwelek militia and serves as deputy army chief for disarmament and mobilization, addressed fighters deployed to confront the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-in Opposition. The deployment follows reports that SPLA-IO recently seized government garrisons in Lou Nuer areas.
UNMISS and Human Rights Warnings on Inflammatory Rhetoric
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan and human rights monitors have repeatedly warned that inflammatory rhetoric by commanders in the Greater Upper Nile region can precede targeted killings, sexual violence, and looting of civilian property. Their alerts frame Olony’s remarks as a serious risk signal (UNMISS).
Appointment by President Salva Kiir and Oil Infrastructure Role
President Salva Kiir appointed Olony to the senior post in January 2025, according to the account. Olony’s Agwelek forces, traditionally drawn from the Shilluk ethnic group, are operating alongside the SSPDF to protect oil infrastructure near the Sudan border under a recent security agreement.
Logistics Shortages and a Demand for Armed Pickup Trucks
Olony acknowledged significant shortages, including vehicles and basic kit such as boots. He said his troops would not advance without adequate transport, demanding at least 30 pickup trucks mounted with heavy guns. He also warned that if others refuse to deploy, his forces would take their equipment.
Unified Forces Under Strain and Delayed Payroll Absorption
The episode also underscores persistent strains in South Sudan’s unified forces. Olony said most Agwelek fighters at the frontline have not been formally absorbed into the SSPDF payroll, a provision linked to the 2018 revitalised peace agreement that has faced prolonged delays.
Ranks, Command Authority, and a Notable Public Aside
He dismissed concerns about hierarchy, telling troops, “It is us who have to absorb ourselves.” In a separate aside, he appeared to mock the inflation of ranks within the security services, saying a man could become a Major General while his wife and child also receive senior titles.
A Career of Shifting Alliances and Denied Allegations
Olony’s career has included multiple shifts, from fighting for the government to rebellion tied to Shilluk land disputes, joining Riek Machar’s SPLA-IO, and later forming the Kit-Gwang faction with General Simon Gatwech Dual. He signed a separate deal with Kiir’s government in 2022 and returned to Juba in May 2023.
Conflict Fatigue and a Pledge to End the Cycle
Describing the conflict as cyclical, Olony told his forces he wanted to bring it to an end this year. He said he joined the SPLA at 13 and is now 52, referring to years of fighting “bullet after bullet without clear reasons,” and concluded: “I will end this problem this year.”