The Agwelek-Kitgwang group led by Gen. Johnson Olony has formally joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), with more than 500 members welcomed into the ruling party at a ceremony in Juba.
The event brought together senior SPLM officials, including the party’s Secretary-General, Dr. Akol Paul Kordit, Upper Nile State Governor Gen. James Koang and other national and state-level party leaders, as well as supporters and members of the Agwelek-Kitgwang leadership.
The welcoming ceremony was held under the theme “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”, with speakers calling for political unity, peace and cooperation as South Sudan prepares for a critical political period.
Speaking at the event, Vice President and SPLM First Deputy Chairperson James Wani Igga welcomed the group, urging its members to become “ambassadors of peace, unity and national development.”
Wani Igga said lasting progress depends on mutual respect, commitment to peace and the willingness of citizens and political leaders to listen to one another and address concerns through peaceful means.
He urged the newly welcomed members to work alongside other SPLM members and contribute to the party’s efforts to build a peaceful and prosperous South Sudan.
Gen. Johnson Olony said his role would remain focused on the military, stressing that his work is purely military and that he would not abandon that responsibility.
Olony urged the SPLM to take responsibility for the group’s political wing and work within the party to advance peace and stability.
He also called on political leaders and communities to promote unity across South Sudan, with particular emphasis on restoring unity and cooperation in Upper Nile State.
Olony said the decision to join the SPLM should be viewed as an opportunity to contribute to peace and national development rather than deepen political divisions.
The ceremony marks a significant political development involving the Agwelek-Kitgwang group, which has been associated with political and security developments in Upper Nile State.
SPLM officials said the integration of the group into the party would strengthen political cooperation and provide an avenue for addressing differences through political engagement.
The leaders also called for greater unity in Upper Nile State, where political and community divisions have contributed to tensions in recent years.
The ceremony concluded with renewed calls for peace, unity and national development, with party officials urging the new members to actively participate in the SPLM’s political programmes.
