SPLM-IO’s Par Kuol declares himself interim chair amid Machar detention

JUBA – South Sudan’s Minister of Peace-Building Stephen Par Kuol announced on Wednesday afternoon that he had assumed the role of interim chairman of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO).

His declaration comes less than a month after the SPLM-IO’s leader, First Vice President Riek Machar, was placed under house arrest by President Salva Kiir Mayardit following heightened tensions.

These tensions arose after deadly clashes between armed youth known as the White Army and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) in Nasir County of northeastern state of Upper Nile.

Speaking at a press conference convened after what his faction termed a leadership consultation meeting in Juba, Par also named Losuba Ludoru Wongo as the interim deputy chairman and Agok Makur Kur, a former deputy finance minister, as the interim secretary-general of the SPLM-IO.

While Machar remains in detention, the party’s current secretary-general, Regina Joseph Kaba, is not detained. The reasons for her apparent removal from her position were not immediately clear following Par’s announcement.

Par further stated that his group had “delinked” itself from Machar’s deputy, Nathaniel Oyet, who has been acting as the interim chairman since Machar’s detention. Oyet has reportedly been outside of Juba.

“We, the SPLM IO, delink ourselves from Hon. Nathaniel Oyet Pierino and henceforth resolve to treat him as former Deputy Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of SPLM/A IO,” Par told journalists at the press briefing.

Par, who himself was suspended earlier this week by Oyet for allegedly plotting to oust Machar, explained that the decision to remove Oyet was due to his absence from the capital. He asserted that Juba is the headquarters of the SPLM-IO and that the party could not be directed by what he described as a “self-exiled” leader.

“This decision is informed by the fact that the headquarters of SPLM/A IO is Juba since the forming of the government of the R-ARCSS,” Par stated.

“Therefore, the SPLM/A IO, which is part and parcel of the national unity government, cannot be led or take orders from a self-exiled leader. Party and government decisions are always taken where the seat of the party and/or government is established and not via remote,” he added.

The SPLM-IO is a key signatory to the revitalized peace agreement signed in September 2018 by President Kiir and Machar. Since 2020, the SPLM-IO has operated from Juba, where its national secretariat is located.

Par emphasized that the new interim leadership, which he said would remain in charge until Machar’s release, is committed to the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement. He also called for the “immediate release” of Machar.

“The SPLM IO reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the implementation of the Revitalized Peace agreement, both in letter and spirit. We believe that this agreement is the sole pathway to achieving lasting peace and reconciliation among the diverse communities of South Sudan,” Par said.

“The National Liberation Council urgently calls for the immediate release of SPLM IO Chairman Dr. Riek Machar Teny and all comrades detained following the recent clash in Nasir involving armed civilians and the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF). This act of detention undermines the principles of peace and dialogue essential for our nation’s recovery,” he added.

The current political upheaval follows fighting that erupted early last month between the White Army, a Nuer-youth militia that aligned with the SPLM-IO during the 2013-2018 conflict, and the SSPDF.

These clashes led to the detention of several senior opposition military and political figures in Juba, including the group’s military chief, Gabriel Duop Lam, and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chuol. On March 26, President Kiir ordered the house arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar, further escalating tensions in and around the capital Juba.

Par also called for an immediate cessation of military offensives between the parties involved and urged the SSPDF to halt its advance towards Nasir County in Ulang County.

“The SPLM IO leadership urges the parties involved in the ongoing military offensives to create an environment conducive to peaceful dialogue. The ongoing advance of the SSPDF toward Ulang County, particularly the effort to redeploy Nasir Town, must be halted to allow for the exploration of political solutions,” he stated.

Sudans Post was unable to reach Oyet, Machar’s deputy and acting chair of the main armed opposition group, for comment. However, Dut Majokdit, a senior SPLM-IO leader and ally of Machar, denounced the meeting where Stephen Par declared himself interim chair as unauthorized, describing it as “illegal and unconstitutional.”

“This meeting at Palm Africa hotel was unauthorized and Par and his few members don’t have any authority to call for consultative meetings without approval from acting chairman or the secretary general,” Majokdit’s statement said.

“That meeting is illegal and unconstitutional. Par and his suspended colleagues due to misconduct have defected from SPLM-IO under Dr Riek Machar. There is no party meeting to be organized at the hotel,” he added.

Dut asserted that Par’s move was “a smokescreen” and warned that “anyone that will align with Par and his small group will no longer be a member of the SPLM-IO.” He further stated, “Our position is very clear no meeting of the party in Juba until the chairman is released by President Kiir to dialogue.”