JUBA — The South Sudan African People’s Congress (APC), a youth-led political party, on Friday called on the main opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in opposition (SPLM-IO), to hold a protest to push for the release of their chairman, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
South Sudanese security forces placed Dr. Machar, the opposition leader and first vice president, under house arrest in Juba in March following escalating political tensions, raising fears of a return to civil war.
Deputy Chief of Staff Gabriel Duop Lam, aligned with Vice President Riek Machar’s SPLM-IO, was detained in March and held at BILPAM military headquarters.
Later in the evening, Petroleum Minister Pout Kang Chol and numerous other SPLM-IO members were arrested at their homes, according to sources.
In a statement extended to Sudans Post on Friday, the African People’s Congress called on leadership of the SPLM-IO party to rise in peaceful protest to demand the immediate release of their detained leader.
“It is time to shift our focus away from military struggle and instead apply pressure on the SPLM-IG through non-violent means, including peaceful demonstrations, picketing, civil disobedience, and potentially boycotting government offices,” it said.
The youth-led political party believed that it is through peaceful protests that the international community can be compelled to pressure the SPLM-IG to release Machar.
“Such change cannot occur without local pressure, particularly emanating from the very communities that support the SPLM-IO,” it said.
“Armed confrontation has become increasingly unpopular, as the government exploits such military actions to justify its own failures and repressive measures against our innocent people.”
It cautioned SPLM-IO against using armed struggle, saying it is an outdated approach that is destructive to the country.
The party also urged the SPLM-IO to pursue legal avenues to compel the SPLM-IG and its security apparatus to produce the detained opposition leader in court.
“It is crucial that SPLM-IO also mobilize the families of these detained leaders—elders, wives, and children—to advocate for their release on medical and humanitarian grounds.”
It stressed the need to reject violence and bloodshed for the sake of maintaining peace and unity in the country.
“Because SPLM-IO is infested by job seekers, warlords, war entrepreneurs, and tribal bigots and not modern politicians, we the APC top leadership have taken off our valuable time to shape and lead opinions. We hope our bold thoughts are adopted and we move this nascent country forward.”
