Alfred Futuyo | The polarizing strongman shaping Western Equatoria’s politics

JUBA — Lieutenant General Alfred Futuyo Karaba, an opposition commander whose authority is rooted in grassroots mobilization rather than formal political or military experience, has emerged as one of Western Equatoria’s most polarizing and influential leaders.

His turbulent political journey—marked by his abrupt dismissal as governor by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, an overnight flight from the state capital, Yambio, and subsequent reinstatement by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition’s (SPLM/A-IO) acting leader, Nathaniel Oyet—underscores the intense power struggles and community reliance that shape South Sudan’s fragile political landscape.

Futuyo’s trajectory from a butcher and farmer to a key military and political figure in the world’s youngest nation highlights the significance of local militias and community loyalty over institutional credentials in the ongoing conflict.

From market butcher to grassroots commander

General Futuyo built his considerable influence not through institutional credentials or military schooling but through deep-seated community loyalty and the mobilization networks he forged across Western Equatoria.

Born in Nadiangere Payam, Yambio County, he possesses mixed Balanda–Azande heritage, but his strongest support base comes from the Balanda community, which has consistently defended him throughout his political disputes.

Before entering public life, Futuyo was a farmer and butcher at the Yambio market and holds no prior background with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), Sudan’s southern rebel group turned South Sudan’s national army (SSPDF), or any formal military experience before the conflict began in 2013.

Futuyo’s initial rise was tied to the Arrow Boys, a community defence group formed to counter insecurity from Ambororo herders, foreign armed groups, and local criminal elements. While not the movement’s founder, he quickly became its most visible leader. This grassroots influence, rather than merit or institutional experience, was the foundation of his elevation within the SPLM-IO.

Riek Machar, South Sudan’s detained first vice president and leader of the SPLM-IO) appointed him head of the group in Western Equatoria and later backed his nomination for governor of the state because Futuyo commanded loyalty in rural communities and had a proven ability to mobilize fighters, making him a crucial strategic political asset for the opposition movement.

Governorship, political divisions, and US sanctions

In June 2020, Futuyo was named as governor of Western Equatoria state based on terms of the revitalized peace agreement signed by the government of President Salva Kiir and SPLM-IO in September 2018. Futuyo adopted an assertive, hands-on leadership style. This approach energized his core supporters but simultaneously strained relations with his partners in the unity government.

Aware that the national administration in Juba would likely not prioritise development in his state—and facing a deputy governor aligned with President Kiir who frequently undermined him—Futuyo pivoted to community-funded initiatives.

He urged citizens to repair roads, construct markets, and expand agriculture using local labour and contributions, arguing the state could not rely on national support.

This approach deepened internal political rifts. His deputies, first Kennedy Ganiko and later Daniel Badagbu, publicly accused him of unilateral decision-making and deliberately excluding them from state matters.

Under his leadership, peace partners, including factions of the SPLM and South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), the other two main signatories to the revitalized peace agreement, filed repeated complaints to Juba, alleging Futuyo ignored power-sharing structures, blocked rival factions, and sidelined ministers.

The political paralysis led to cabinet meetings being boycotted and state projects stalling. His dual role as both governor and the state’s top SPLA-IO commander also drew scrutiny from national and international officials.

In June 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned him for alleged abuses committed by SPLA-IO forces under his command in 2018, including civilian abductions and acts of sexual violence, further complicating his political position on the national stage.

Dismissal, flight, and reinstatement

President Kiir dismissed Futuyo on February 9, 2025, a decree that immediately triggered tension and heavy gunfire reports near the State Secretariat and Futuyo’s residence in Yambio, the state capital.

One of his security personnel later told Sudans Post at the time that the shooting was intended to clear a path for his withdrawal. Futuyo subsequently left Yambio overnight under the escort of bodyguards, moving to an undisclosed location, confirming the commander’s flight.

Reactions to his removal were sharply divided across the state. Some communities in Tambura County celebrated his dismissal, labelling him a divisive figure. Conversely, the SPLM-IO condemned the move as a violation of the 2018 peace agreement.

The depth of the political breakdown was underscored when Deputy Governor Badagbu, who had frequently clashed with Futuyo, appealed for him to return to the state following the political vacuum.

In a direct rejection of Kiir’s action, SPLM-IO acting chairman Nathaniel Oyet Pierino—who is now leading the group while Machar is in detention—issued an order on August 30, annulling the presidential decree and reinstating Futuyo as governor with immediate effect.

This decision reaffirmed Futuyo’s powerful standing inside the opposition, where he also serves as the overall commander of SPLA-IO’s Sector Six and deputy chief of staff for operations. His reinstatement underscored the group’s continued reliance on Futuyo’s crucial grassroots power base.

To supporters, General Futuyo remains a bold defender of local interests; to critics, he is a confrontational leader whose style deepened political divisions and complicated governance in an already fragile state.

His entire career reflects the volatility of Western Equatoria’s politics and the enduring significance of community influence in South Sudan’s conflict landscape.