By Manas James Okony
Riek Gai Gatluak, the commissioner of Ulang County in Upper Nile State, has been ousted from his office by officials of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) in response to the house arrest of their leader and First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar.
Ulang County is predominantly controlled by the SPLM-IO, yet it is designated to the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) under the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which established the current coalition government comprising President Kiir’s ruling SPLM party, Machar’s SPLM-IO, and other political factions.
The SSOA, a signatory to the 2018 peace deal, is a coalition that includes various political groups, such as the FDP party led by Higher Education Minister Changson Chang.
Riek Gai, who is affiliated with the FDP, told No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper that he has been denied access to his office since Friday.
Despite deeming his ouster unlawful, Riek chose to remain at his residence to prevent any potential violence.
“I am still the commissioner because the actions of the SPLM-IO soldiers were unlawful,” he stated. “They approached me and claimed that the agreement had collapsed, which is false as there is no official document supporting that.”
Riek confirmed that he is currently safe within the county.
“The SPLA-IO soldiers allowed me to stay in the county if I wish, but instructed me not to visit my office because they believe the deal is no longer valid,” he revealed.
He further stated, “I raised this issue with the chairman of my party, who considers this move illegal. However, we cannot pursue this matter further due to the arrest of the SPLM-IO leader.”
The situation across South Sudan remains precarious, with the fragile peace established by the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement at risk.
In recent weeks, a tense calm has settled over parts of the country, even as violent clashes continue between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) and the White Army, a militia composed mainly of Nuer youth based in the Upper Nile region.
The White Army, which the government has accused of having ties to Machar’s SPLM-IO, has been involved in confrontations that have resulted in significant casualties and ongoing instability.
Recent conflicts in Upper Nile State, particularly in the town of Nasir, have proved deadly, claiming several lives, including that of a senior SSPDF commander and a staff member from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
In the aftermath of the deadly clashes in Nasir, multiple officials, including First Vice President Riek Machar, have been arrested under allegations of complicity, further contributing to perceptions that the peace agreement is faltering—a claim that a government spokesperson refuted in a press conference on Friday.