The Interim Chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO), Stephen Par Kuol, on Wednesday dismissed claims that the recent leadership appointments in the movement amounted to a coup against Dr. Riek Machar.
Kuol, who also serves as the Minister of Peacebuilding, stated that the decision to appoint interim leaders was made to address a leadership vacuum created by ongoing political instability within the movement.
“This is not a coup!” Kuol declared during a press briefing following his appointment. “What we have done is to resolve the current leadership crisis resulting from the detention of our chairman [Dr. Machar] and the desertion of other key leaders like the deputy chairperson and secretary-general.”
He emphasized that the appointments of the three interim leaders – Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and Secretary-General – are temporary and will not alter the existing SPLM-IO structures.
“The rest of our structures remain intact. We took this step purely to address the leadership gap – not to overthrow anyone,” he added.
The SPLM-IO leadership convened a consultative meeting at Palm Africa Hotel in Juba on Wednesday to discuss the internal crisis. The meeting, which faced criticism from some party members, appointed Stephen Par Kuol as Interim Chairperson, Losuba Wongo as Deputy Chairperson, and Agok Makur as Secretary-General.
However, the move was strongly opposed by Lam Paul Gabriel, the Spokesperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-In-Opposition (SPLA-IO), who labeled it a coup against Dr. Machar.
“This is a coup against Machar,” Gabriel said, urging SPLA-IO forces to remain loyal to Dr. Machar and reject the newly appointed leaders.
“SPLA-IO Deputy Director for National Security Services, Lt. Yiey Dak, directs all personnel under command and control to distance themselves from the coup leader Stephen Par Kuol and his team of betrayers in Juba,” Gabriel stated.
