By Yiep Joseph
Leadership of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) in Northern Bahr el Ghazal expressed support for Stephen Par Kuol, the newly nominated interim Chairperson.
According to a statement released to the media, Daniel Akot Akot, State SPLM-IO Chairman in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, reaffirmed their allegiance to support the interim leadership, stating that it would facilitate the call for the release of Dr. Riek Machar.
Despite several rejections from SPLM-IO members, including the military wing, Akot stated that the interim leadership would focus on the implementation of the peace agreement as well as the release of Dr. Machar.
“We, the leadership of SPLM IO in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, reaffirm unwavering support to an Interim Leadership of our mighty party in South Sudan, and on the same note, we call upon the leadership of R-TGoNU to release H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny Dhuorgon,” Akot said.
This month, the suspended Stephen Par Kuol and other members convened a consultative meeting that brought hundreds of SPLM-IO members together. This event resulted in the nomination of an interim chair, as well as a deputy and secretary general.
Stephen Par Kuol’s successful nomination as Interim Chair, replacing Dr. Machar who is under house arrest, has received numerous rejections from SPLM/A-IO members.
However, Par and his team in Juba remain committed to the implementation of the peace agreement despite these rejections, a move that has created a political dilemma within the opposition party.
After assuming the position of Interim Chair, Stephen Par Kuol stated that the decision was not intended to replace Dr. Machar but rather to ease his release and facilitate the implementation of the peace agreement.
According to a Press Statement extended to the media, Oyet Nathaniel, the Acting Chairman of SPLM-IO, dismissed the replacement of Dr. Machar by Par Kuol.
Oyet stated 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 undermine the agreement.
“The gathering failed to meet the provisions of the party constitution, rendering it not only illegal but null and void,” he said.
“The replacement of Dr. Machar by suspended members of SPLM/A-IO is illegal, and I urge our members to distance themselves from Par Kuol,” he added.
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 Juba interim leadership, which they labeled as “betrayers in Juba.”