By Yiep Joseph
A sharp division has engulfed the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) over which faction’s chairperson to support.
Following the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar, the Chairman of the SPLM/A-IO, some members, including Deputy Chairperson Oyet Nathaniel, left the country and declared the 2018 peace agreement defunct.
However, in an attempt to continue implementing the 2018 peace agreement, a group of prominent SPLM/A-IO figures, led by Minister of Peace Building Stephen Par Kuol, reiterated their commitment to peace and called for Dr. Machar’s release.
From his hiding place, Oyet Nathaniel, the SPLM/A-IO Deputy Chair, suspended four members, including Minister Par Kuol, citing their alleged desire to overthrow Dr. Machar with government support.
To deepen the division, on Wednesday, the suspended Stephen Par Kuol and other members convened a consultative meeting that brought together hundreds of members.
This event evolved into a nomination process for an interim chair, deputy, and secretary general.
Stephen Par Kuol’s successful nomination as interim chair to replace Dr. Machar, who remains under house arrest, has faced numerous rejections from a section of SPLM/A-IO members.
Nevertheless, Par and his team in Juba remain committed to implementing the peace agreement despite the rejections, creating a political dilemma within the opposition party.
After assuming the interim chair position, Stephen Par Kuol stated that the decision was not intended to replace Dr. Machar but rather to facilitate his release and the implementation of the peace agreement.
According to a press statement extended to the media, Oyet Nathaniel, the Acting Chairman of SPLM-IO, dismissed Dr. Machar’s replacement by Par Kuol.
Oyet asserted that the meeting that purportedly ousted Dr. Machar was illegal and urged all members to distance themselves from Par Kuol’s leadership, claiming that they are being used to sabotage the agreement.
“The gathering failed to meet the provisions of the party constitution; it was not only illegal but null and void,” he stated. “The replacement of Dr. Machar by the suspended members of SPLM/A-IO is illegal, and I urge our members to distance themselves from Par Kuol.”
On the other hand, SPLA-IO commanders rejected the interim leadership of Stephen Par and Lasuba Wango, asserting that they only recognize Dr. Riek Machar and Oyet Nathaniel as the legitimate leaders of the party, which is a signatory to the 2018 peace deal.
In response to the formation of the interim leadership, SPLA-IO Acting Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Peter Thok Chuol and D/G for National Security Services Lt. Gen. Yiey Dak, who fled Juba fearing arrest, instructed all Sector and Division Commanders to distance themselves from the interim leadership in Juba, labeling them as “betrayers in Juba.”
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, the SPLA-IO spokesperson, informed the public and the guarantors of the 2018 peace deal—including IGAD, AU, UN, and the international community—that they are not involved in the Juba interim leadership.
“The SPLA-IO is under the full command and control of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, and in his absence, Gen. Nathaniel Oyet Pierino is in charge.”
Furthermore, the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC) officially rejected the splinter group led by Par Kuol, delivering a significant setback to the newly formed faction claiming loyalty to the SPLM/A-IO.
In a clear statement, R-JMEC reaffirmed its position of recognizing only officials appointed by Nathaniel Oyet, the First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly and Deputy Chairman of the SPLM/A-IO.
R-JMEC had to postpone its evaluation meeting this week, where R-JMEC was expected will review progress on the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement.