By Jacob Onuha Nelson
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has refuted any division in the party, as perceived by Peace Monitors.
Pal Mai Deng, Spokesperson of SPLM-IO under Dr. Riek Machar, said in a statement that “the notion that the party is divided is not true”.
Mai’s statement followed a call from the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) for SPLM-IO to resolve differences.
According to Mai, SPLM-IO remains united under one umbrella.
“SPLM IO is intact, undivided, and formidable. The impression that we are divided is absolutely and entirely untrue,” Mai said.
Meanwhile, in the statement issued by RJMEC, interim chairperson, George Aggrey Owinow urged the key opposition party to use internal structures to resolve wrangles in order to ensure active participation in implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement.
Owinow called on parties signatory, to ensure inclusive implementation of the 2018 Peace Agreement.
In addition to the pending tasks in the 2018 peace agreement, the recent division among parties, particularly, the leadership of SPLM-IO, remains a challenge.
In a recent, a sharp division engulfed the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) over who is the right party chairperson to supporter following the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar.
Some SPLM-IO members, including the deputy chairperson, Oyet Nathaniel, left the country and declared the 2018 peace agreement dead while a splinter group of Amb. Stephen Par Kuol, maintain the party still thriving with interim leadership.
Meanwhile, Oyet Nathaniel, the SPLM/A-IO deputy chair, in his place of hiding, slapped the four members, including Minister Par Kuol, with suspension, citing that they wanted to overthrow Dr. Machar with support from the government.
Deepening the division, was Stephen Par Kuol’s acrobatic twist of events with other members to convene a consultative meeting and overturned the suspension into birth of interim leadership.
Though with stern rejection from other SPLM-IO members, Stephen Par Kuol, successfully became interim chair, replacing the house incarcerated Dr. Riek Machar.
The interim group led by Stephen Par Kuol, Minister of Peace Building, reiterated their commitment to continue with the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, as they persist on demanding for release of Dr. Machar.