JUBA — A South Sudanese lawmaker called for the immediate removal of a senior army commander on Sunday, accusing him of ordering troops to indiscriminately kill civilians and destroy property during the planned military operations in the restive Jonglei State.
General Johnson Olony, the Deputy Chief of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) for Mobilisation and Disarmament, had on Saturday issued a directive to his forces to “spare no lives,” in the impending Jonglei offensive.
The accusation marks a sharp escalation in political rhetoric in Juba as violence intensifies in the country’s north, where clashes between government forces, opposition groups, and local militias have displaced thousands.
“Such a statement is irresponsible, reckless, and deeply alarming,” Wany Bum Makhor, a member of Jonglei State Parliament representing Uror County, said in a press statement to Sudans Post on Sunday.
“Language that incites the destruction of civilians and civilian property directly contradicts the principles of humanity… under international law,” he added.
Makhor called on Olony to resign honourably. Alternatively, he urged President Salva Kiir to relieve the general of his duties to prevent “international embarrassment” and ensure South Sudan upholds its obligations under the Geneva Conventions.
“South Sudan is not an island… [it] is bound by established international norms governing the conduct of armed conflict,” Makhor added.
General Olony, a former militia leader who integrated into the national army under a peace agreement, could not immediately be reached for comment regarding the remarks.
The lawmaker warned that incitement against vulnerable groups—including women, children, and the elderly—could expose individuals to criminal responsibility under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
