SPLM-IO Political Bureau breaks silence over Par’s faction

JUBA – The Political Bureau of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) under the leadership of detained First Vice President Riek Machar has broken its silence over the formation of the party’s interim leadership under Stephen Par Kuol.

On April 9, 2025, Stephen Par Kuol made a declaration at Palm Africa Hotel that he had replaced Machar, who also doubles as the Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the SPLM/A-IO, as an interim chairman.

While Par’s interim chairmanship has been widely refuted by SPLM/A-IO leadership throughout the country, the Political Bureau said he has persistently been in the media claiming that the SPLM/A-IO leaders and members in R-TGoNU in Juba and elsewhere in the country are in support of his attempt.

In a letter bearing 18 signatures, the party said it rejected the interim structure and reiterated that it has not changed its leadership. “It [the SPLM-IO] is still headed by Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, with the rest of the structures intact.”

The Political Bureau accused the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) of dividing the party, adding that any member of the party influenced by the Kiir-led elements is defective.

“The project to divide SPLM/A (I0) into four categories [SPLM/A (IO) in detention, SPLM/A (IO) outside the country, SPLM/A (IO) in hiding, and SPLM/A in government] is an attempt to justify an action that is unjustifiable; there is only one SPLM/A (IO) under the Chairmanship of Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon; any attempt to create an interim leadership can only be treated as a clear case of defection,” it said in a statement.

The party added that: “What Hon. Stephen Par Kuol has attempted by installing himself as an interim Chairman of SPLM/A (IO) has no basis in the books, and it is therefore null and void.”

The members of the opposition party have called on the international community to compel the government to release Machar and come to the negotiation table.

“The SPLM/A (IO), therefore, calls on the African Union, IGAD, UN, EU, TROIKA, and the people of South Sudan to pressure ITGoNU/SPLM (IG) to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon and other SPLM/A (IO) political and military leaders who are in ITGoNU/SPLM (IG) detention such that the stalled implementation of the R-ARCSS is jumpstarted,” stated the press release.