The National Liberation Council (NLC) of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) has appointed interim leaders to steer the party following the detention of its Chairperson, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
In a consultative meeting held on Wednesday at Palm Africa Hotel, the NLC named Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol as the interim chairperson, with Lasuba Wongo appointed as his deputy and Angok Makur as interim secretary-general.
“The National Liberation Council has nominated and approved these leaders to guide the SPLM-IO during this critical period until the Chairman, Dr. Riek Machar, is released,” Kuol announced during the press briefing.
He reaffirmed the party’s dedication to the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), adding that “The SPLM-IO reiterates its unwavering commitment to the full implementation of the peace agreement, both in letter and spirit.”
Kuol also called for the immediate release of Dr. Machar and other SPLM-IO members detained in connection with recent clashes in Nasir between armed civilians and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).
“The National Liberation Council urgently demands the release of Dr. Riek Machar and all other detained comrades,” Kuol added.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from within the party. Dut Majokdit, a senior SPLM-IO member, took to Facebook to denounce the move, describing it as “a smokescreen of the highest order.”
He argued that any leadership change must be conducted through a national convention, as mandated by the party’s constitution.
“Dr. Machar is unshakable. He cannot be replaced in a hotel meeting but only through a national convention,” Majokdit wrote.
In response, Kuol defended the legitimacy of the council’s decision, saying, “The National Liberation Council is the second-highest organ of the SPLM-IO. As the party’s legislative body, its decision is both legal and constitutional.”
The formation of the interim leadership marks a significant development for SPLM-IO as it navigates a turbulent political moment in South Sudan’s peace process.
