By Jacob Onuha Nelson
Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) interim leadership has suspended eleven officials in Western Bahr El Ghazal state.
The suspension letter dated 2nd July, that No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper has seen, was signed by party’s interim chairperson, Stephen Par Koul.
“I, Cde. Amb. Stephen Par Kuot, the interim chairman and Commander-In-Chief of SPLM/A-IO, do hereby suspend the following members from their respective duties in the Revitalized Transitional Government of Western Bhar El Ghazal,” the letter reads in part.
Though the letter did not state reasons for the suspension of the state officials, it’s believed to be related to ongoing wrangles within SPLM-IO party.
Some SPLM-IO party members doubt legitimacy of the interim leadership under Amb. Stephen Par Kout.
Among those suspended are William Kamilo Buluk, Henry Claudio Musa, Juma Abdallah Mohamed, Hawa Balinga Boy, Luka Ngor Kuic, Peter Lual Akuar, Rogeya Musa Nowwar, Dansio William Taban, Pasquale Majok Majok, Angelo Ghiir Agith, and Adil Mohamed Hassan.
The suspension, however, did not clearly state the position of the members in the state’s revitalized transition agreement as well as in the SPLM-IO party structures.
“This order shall come into effect immediately upon its signature signed under my hands this third day of the month of July 2025,” the suspension read in part.
Recently a sharp division engulfed the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) over who is the right party chairperson to support.
After the house arrest of Dr. Riek Machar, the chairman of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A-IO), some of the members, including the deputy chairperson, Oyet Nathaniel, left the country and declared the 2018 peace agreement dead.
However, in an attempt to continue with the implementation of 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 as they called for the release of Dr. Machar.
Oyet Nathaniel, the SPLM/A-IO deputy chair, in his place of hiding, slapped the four members, including Minister Par Kuol, with suspension, citing that they wanted to overthrow Dr. Machar with support from the government.
Despite the suspension, Stephen Par Kuol and the members convened a consultative meeting and formed an interim leadership.
Despite series of rejections and criticism from some SPLM/A-IO members, The SPLM-IO Interim leadership is outwitting the test of time.