By William Madouk
First Vice President and Chair of the Governance Cluster, Dr. Riek Machar Teny has formally requested a meeting with President Salva Kiir to engage in face-to-face discussions about pressing security issues in the country.
In his written request to the head of state, Dr. Machar seek to address the recent escalating security situation in three states: Upper Nile, Western Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal.
“I am writing to request an audience with Your Excellency to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Upper Nile State and Western Equatoria State in particular,” he stated.
“On February 20, 2025, I wrote to Your Excellency regarding the need to replace the SSPDF in Nasir town, which has recently become a flashpoint,” he noted.
The Vice President highlighted that recent violations in these states have been significant, prompting him to seek discussions with the guarantors to break the gridlock and find amicable solutions.
“In light of the above, I am writing to Your Excellency and the Guarantors to report the systematic violations of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).”
Dr. Machar emphasized that the latest infractions threaten to reverse the progress achieved during the implementation of the Agreement, potentially leading to a breakdown of Security Arrangements and the collapse of the Agreement.
He explained, “On January 5, 2025, the SSPDF Regional Force Contingent intended for deployment in the Democratic Republic of Congo was moved to Kubiri Bou in Nagero County, Western Equatoria State.”
Furthermore, he reported that on January 11, 2025, this force was used to attack the SPLA-IO assembly site in Kubiri Bou and the villages in Nagero County.
On February 10, 2025, shortly after the Presidential Decree that relieved Governor Alfred Futuyo Karaba, Dr. Machar noted that the SSPDF launched an attack on the governor’s residence.
He stated that Futuyo and his family were forced to flee for their safety, and his properties, including the State House and private residences, were attacked and completely looted, leaving his whereabouts unknown.
He also claimed that on the same night, the SSPDF targeted the homes of key SPLM-IO members, including ministers nominated by the SPLM-IO, forcing them to escape the state.
In Western Bahr el Ghazal State, Dr. Machar accused the combined forces of the SSPDF and National Security Services of attacking Kubiri Ngap in Jur River County in mid-January.
“The villages of Kuanya and Bar Wol were attacked, displacing many civilians, looting properties, and burning down numerous houses,” he claimed.
He stated that the State Security Advisor and Commissioner of Jur River County had been arrested and detained by the National Security Services in Juba.
“The attack in Jur River County of Western Bahr el Ghazal State is part of a broader national campaign to target the members and areas controlled by the SPLM/SPLA-IO in the country,” he underscored.
Meanwhile, in Upper Nile State, Dr. Machar accused the combined forces of the SSPDF, along with Agwelek and Abusok militias, of being dispatched to Nasir County in violation of the Permanent Ceasefire and the Transitional Security Arrangement, as well as the ceasefire agreement (CoHA) of December 21, 2017.
He pointed out that the deployment of Agwelek and Abusok militias, primarily composed of youth from specific villages, has sparked animosity among local youths in Ulang and Nasir Counties, worsening tension and insecurity in the state.
“On February 25, 2025, SSPDF helicopter gunships attacked the SPLA-IO assembly area and villages in Ulang County, Upper Nile State, in two separate incidents,” he said.
Mr. Machar mentioned that there are pending appointment requests on the President’s desk, some dating back to October 22, 2024, and urged the President to act swiftly.
The office of President has not yet commented on the request.
Early this month, the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) reported a severe deterioration in security in Upper Nile state.
The ongoing rotation of soldiers in Nasir has raised concerns about the potential for widespread conflict.
In a joint statement, the African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) urge the government to immediately address tensions in three states.
“Specifically, AUMISS, IGAD, UNMISS and RJMEC call upon the Parties to urgently work together through the established mechanisms of the R-ARCSS to de-escalate the situation in order to restore calm in Upper Nile State,”
They urged the parties to the 2018 peace agreement and the Joint Defence Board (JDB) to collaborate and quickly address the persisting security problems in all three states.
“We caution that if left unaddressed, these incidents could potentially undermine the Permanent Ceasefire, which remains the cornerstone of the Revitalized Peace Agreement,” the statement read.
They emphasize the need to progress the full and rapid unification and urgent deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces to boost public faith and trust in the government.