South Sudan’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Paul Nang Majok, has declared that the army will take firm action against individuals accused of taking up arms against the government, including former senior SPLM official Nhial Deng Nhial, who recently announced the formation of a new political party.
According to Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), Gen. Majok directed security forces to act against anyone allegedly involved in rebellion.
“The CDF reiterated his resolve and determination to wage war against those who had taken up arms against the government, including Hon. Nhial Deng Nhial who rebelled recently,” Lul said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
However, Nhial Deng Nhial has denied accusations of rebellion, describing them as “baseless and politically driven.”
In an interview with Lakes Media, he said his new political platform, the South Sudan Salvation Movement (SSSM), is a peaceful and democratic movement aimed at reforming governance in the country.
“I have no intention of taking up arms against the government,” Nhial said. “Our movement seeks to restore national unity, accountability, and good governance through peaceful means.”
Nhial, a veteran of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) and once a close ally of President Salva Kiir, unveiled the South Sudan Salvation Movement last week.
In an 18-page declaration shared with the media, Nhial accused the SPLM leadership of abandoning the founding ideals that guided South Sudan’s liberation struggle.
“Our nation stands at a crossroads,” he wrote. “The SPLM has lost its moral compass. The people of South Sudan deserve leadership that prioritizes peace, justice, and prosperity over personal power and corruption.”
Nhial’s political move has shaken South Sudan’s political establishment, with analysts suggesting it could draw support from reform-minded SPLM members, civil society actors, and frustrated youth seeking change.
The SSPDF’s declaration, however, has sparked concerns about the shrinking political space in South Sudan, where dissenting voices are often labeled as rebels.
Nhial maintains that the South Sudan Salvation Movement will serve as a “platform of hope and renewal,” working to build “a just, peaceful, and united South Sudan.”
