Johnson Olony, deputy army chief and Agwelek militia leader, has suggested creating a separate state or country for the Nuer to end recurring ethnic violence.
Olony warned that civilians are being dragged into the ongoing conflict and could be “finished for no cause.” He emphasized that only combatants should fight, recalling past battles where civilians were not involved.
Speaking to Jonglei Governor Riak Gai Kok, Olony said:
“What we need to do is give the Nuer their own country, so the Nuer can rule themselves.”
His remarks come amid concerns over potential mass abuses in Jonglei, as Agwelek forces operate alongside government troops against SPLA-IO fighters.
South Sudan continues to grapple with ethnic tensions among Dinka, Nuer, and Shilluk communities since independence in 2011.
