By Yiep Joseph
Stephen Par Kuol, interim chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) Juba faction, has vowed to prevent the 2018 peace agreement from collapsing.
Par stated that SPLM-IO members are working continuously to ensure that peace implementation proceeds and security stabilizes.
The SPLM-IO interim chairperson made these remarks while addressing attendees at the late Matai Gatlauk’s funeral in Juba, an event that brought together politicians, church leaders, and various community members.
“We can not allow this peace agreement to collapse, this peace agreement is a tall building and if it collapses, the damages will be on all of us”, Par said.
Par expressed that his team remains committed to ensuring Dr. Riek Machar is released from house arrest. He called on members to unite and work towards peace implementation and the unity of South Sudanese.
Earlier this month, Stephen Par Kuol and other members convened a consultative meeting that brought hundreds of SPLM-IO members together.
This event resulted in nominations for interim chair, deputy chair, and secretary general, with Par Kuol nominated for the top interim position.
However, Kuol’s nomination as Interim Chair, replacing Dr. Machar (who remains under house arrest), has faced significant rejection from many SPLM/A-IO members loyal to Machar. Par Kuol himself had reportedly been suspended by the faction loyal to Machar prior to this move.
Despite these rejections, Par and his team in Juba insist they remain committed to implementing the peace agreement, a situation that has created a political dilemma within the opposition party.
After assuming the role of Interim Chair, Stephen Par Kuol stated that the decision was not intended to permanently replace Dr. Machar, but rather to facilitate his release and the implementation of the peace agreement.
Meanwhile, Oyet Nathaniel, the Acting Chairman of the SPLM-IO faction loyal to Machar, denounced the replacement of Dr. Machar by Par Kuol.
Oyet stated that the meeting purporting to replace Dr. Machar was illegal and urged all members to distance themselves from Par Kuol’s leadership, suggesting they are being used to undermine the agreement.
“The gathering failing to meet the provision of the party constitution, it was 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 urged our members to distance themselves from Par Kuol.”
“The gathering failed to meet the provisions of the party constitution; it was not only illegal but null and void,” Oyet 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.”
In response, SPLA-IO Acting Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Peter Thok Chuol and Director General for National Security Services Lt. Gen. Yiey Dak (who reportedly fled Juba fearing arrest) instructed all Sector and Division Commanders to distance themselves from the interim leadership based in Juba, terming them “betrayers in Juba.”
Separately, the SPLM-IO leadership in Northern Bahr el Ghazal expressed support for the party’s nominated interim Chairperson, Stephen Par Kuol.
The State SPLM-IO Chairman in Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Daniel Akot Akot, reaffirmed his allegiance to the Interim Leadership, stating that it would facilitate calls for the release of Dr. Riek Machar.