Gen. Rolnyang slams Olony over ‘reckless’ remarks, vows ‘steadfast response’

BOR — The South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) Chairman and Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Stephen Buay Rolnyang, has slammed Gen. Johnson Olony Thabo over what he described as reckless and dangerous remarks inciting violence against civilians, warning that any attempt to target communities in Jonglei State will be met with steadfast resistance.

In a statement dated January 24, 2026, Buay condemned Olony — the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) deputy chief for disarmament and mobilisation, who also doubles as commander of the Agwelek militia — after he instructed troops preparing for deployment to Lou Nuer areas to “spare no lives,” including children, the elderly, and non-combatants.

The remarks were first reported by Sudans Post, which geolocated Olony’s address to troops in Poktap, the administrative headquarters of Duk County in Jonglei State.

“The South Sudan People’s Movement/Army condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent statements made by Agwelek militia commander Olony Thabo,” Buay said. “His remarks explicitly called for the killing of civilians, including children and the elderly, the destruction of property, and the slaughter of livestock.”

Buay described the statements as a grave incitement to violence and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. He accused Olony of demonstrating disregard for the principles of distinction and proportionality that govern armed conflict and labeled him an untrained militia leader operating without recognised instruction in the laws of war.

“His rhetoric is a reckless attempt to inflame ethnic tensions and pit the communities of South Sudan against one another, serving the interests of a regime seeking to obscure its failures through tribal conflict,” the statement read.

The SSPM/A leader emphasised that the Nuer community, like all South Sudanese, possesses an inherent right to self-defence and warned that any attempt to threaten their existence or displace them from their land would be unacceptable. He invoked historical resistance by the Lou Nuer to past attempts at subjugation, stating that any similar effort in the present would meet “steadfast resistance.”

Buay further called on opposition forces to recognise what he termed dangerous tribalist provocations and remain focused on the broader objective of national political change rather than being drawn into inter-communal violence. He warned that the government was attempting to use armed civilians from other communities to lure opposition groups into conflict with civilian populations.

In a direct appeal to armed elements from the Dinka and Shilluk communities, Buay urged them to refuse participation in what he described as a manufactured war. “This is not your war. Do not be used as instruments of a divisive and failing government,” the statement said.

He concluded by reaffirming the SSPM/A’s commitment to a united South Sudan, the protection of civilians regardless of ethnicity, and the pursuit of a just and sustainable political settlement.

The exchange comes amid heightened military mobilisation in Jonglei State, raising fears of renewed clashes and civilian displacement. Observers warn that inflammatory rhetoric by senior commanders risks further destabilising an already fragile security environment.