South Sudan’s Machar names top ally as deputy

JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has appointed a senior member of his group as his deputy, almost a year since the resignation of Henry Odwar as his deputy.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post this afternoon, Machar who doubles as the chairman and commander in chief of the main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) named Nathaniel Oyet Pierino, the first deputy speaker of parliament, as his deputy.

“Pursuant to the resolutions (1) and (2) of September 23, 2016 Khartoum Political Bureau meeting: resolutions (1) and (2) of August 31, 2018 Khartoum Political Bureau meeting: operationalization of resolutions of 3d Conference of the NLC on September 22, 2018 held in Khartoum; resolution number (1) on organization matters of 6h National Conference held in Juba on 1-5th December 2020; and resolution (7) of the 4th National Liberation Council held in Juba on 2nd December 2021, I hereby further assign .. Cde Nathaniel Oyet Pierino [as] Deputy Chairman of SPLM/SPLA (IO),” Machar said in the statement.

Separately, a senior South Sudan main armed opposition official close to Machar confirmed the appointment of Mr. Oyet as Machar’s deputy.

“This is to confirm that First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) has appointed Cde Nathaniel Oyet Pierino as the deputy chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) with immediate effect,” the official said.

The South Sudanese prominent opposition leader also appointed Martin Gamma Abucha, the country’s minister of mining, as Chairperson of SPLM-IO National Committee for Education, Science Technology.

Machar also named James Odhok Oyiay as the Chairperson SPLM-IO National Committee for Culture, Youth and Sports.

The position of deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO has been vacant since the resignation of Henry Odwar, former minister of mining in the revitalized transitional government, as deputy chairman of the SPLM-IO in August last year.

There was heated debate with the main armed opposition group regarding the status of the implementation of the revitalized peace agreement with Odwar, among other senior members of eh group, accusing Machar of surrendering to President Salva Kiir.

Odwar then joined the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual whose attempt to remove First Vice President Machar as chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA-IO sparked deadly opposition infighting.

However, Odwar has largely remained outside the SPLM/SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction as disagreement over politicians emerged between General Gatwech and his deputy General Johnson Olony Thabo who does not want politicians in the opposition faction.