In a statement dated October 16, 2025, Amum praised Nhial’s decision to break away from the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and form an independent political organization.
The statement commended Nhial—referred to rhetorically as “commander Nhial”—for what the UPA called his “patriotic decision” to seek alternative approaches to addressing the country’s political and humanitarian crises.
Nhial, a veteran of South Sudan’s liberation struggle, served in various senior government and SPLM positions, including as the chief negotiator during the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) talks that ended decades of civil war between Sudan and the then southern rebels.
His political exit from the SPLM earlier this week marks one of the most significant defections from the ruling party in recent years.
In its statement, the UPA said Nhial’s experience and leadership would strengthen its ongoing efforts to push for what it described as “peace, justice, and prosperity” for South Sudanese citizens.
The alliance accused the government of President Salva Kiir of presiding over a failing state and called on citizens inside and outside the country to unite against what it termed “a small cartel that has captured the state.”
“The situation in South Sudan continues to deteriorate rapidly: the state is collapsing, yet President Kiir and his gang persist in tearing apart our social fabric to sow division among our people,” the statement read in part.
While the SPLM has not issued an official response to Nhial’s defection, his departure is expected to have political ripple effects, given his long-standing ties to the party’s founding generation and his reputation as a moderate within South Sudan’s political establishment.
