The Executive Director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, has called on the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) to urgently resolve its internal power struggles in order to avoid disrupting the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
In a statement extended to the media, Yakani warned that the ongoing internal divisions within the SPLM-IO are undermining the group’s participation in key peace implementation mechanisms.
“The recent political infighting among SPLM-IO factions is seriously affecting their representation in the peace implementation bodies,” Yakani said. “As civil society, we are calling for dialogue. The SPLM-IO factions shifting power should respect legal procedures to avoid legitimacy questions over their roles in the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).”
Yakani emphasized that civil society organizations have observed conflicting statements and orders related to appointments and dismissals within SPLM-IO, which point to serious disruptions in the peace process.
He urged SPLM-IO leaders to unite and work together to ensure effective participation in the peace implementation mechanisms.
“I am urging SPLM-IO to take legal procedures seriously when handling internal power transitions. Failure to do so will negatively impact the group’s contribution to the peace process,” he added.
Yakani revealed that the recent reshuffling of SPLM-IO representatives to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) led to the postponement of scheduled meetings.
“We witnessed the postponement of RJMEC sessions due to internal confusion within SPLM-IO. This could jeopardize the transitional process and raise concerns over the legitimacy of SPLM-IO’s participation in the peace agreement,” he warned.
The power struggle within SPLM-IO intensified following the house arrest of its leader, Dr. Riek Machar. In response, some senior members, including Deputy Chairman Oyet Nathaniel, fled the country and declared the peace agreement defunct.
In contrast, another group of SPLM-IO members, led by Minister of Peacebuilding Stephen Par Kuol, reaffirmed their commitment to the agreement and called for Dr. Machar’s release.
Oyet Nathaniel, in hiding, suspended four members of the party including Minister Kuol, accusing them of attempting to oust Dr. Machar with the alleged support of the government.
On Wednesday, the suspended members, led by Stephen Par Kuol, convened a consultative meeting that brought together hundreds of SPLM-IO members. The gathering resulted in Kuol’s nomination as interim chairman, alongside the appointment of an interim deputy and secretary general.
However, Kuol’s nomination was met with swift rejection from other SPLM-IO leaders. In a press statement, Acting Chairman Oyet Nathaniel dismissed the meeting as illegitimate and declared the leadership change null and void.
“The gathering failed to meet the provisions of the party constitution. It was not only illegal but also null and void,” Oyet said. “The replacement of Dr. Machar by suspended members is unlawful, and I urge all members to distance themselves from Par Kuol’s leadership.”
Meanwhile, SPLA-IO military commanders have also rejected the interim leadership of Stephen Par Kuol and Lasuba Wango, reiterating their recognition of Dr. Riek Machar and Oyet Nathaniel as the legitimate leaders of the party that is a signatory to the 2018 peace deal.
