The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In-Opposition (SPLM-IO) has condemned the suspension of its leader, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang, warning that the move threatens to collapse South Sudan’s fragile peace deal.
On September 11, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs announced plans to arraign Dr. Machar and other SPLM-IO members over the March 3–7 Nasir incident, followed by a presidential decree suspending the two senior officials from the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity (R-TGoNU).
The decision, broadcast on state-run SSBC, triggered immediate backlash from the opposition camp.
In a statement issued late Thursday, SPLM-IO Spokesperson Pal Mai Deng dismissed the trial as a “sham” and branded the suspension an “abuse of power” by President Salva Kiir and the SPLM-IG.
“Neither SPLM-IG nor SPLM-IO has the authority to prosecute members of each other. The R-ARCSS is clear—the responsibility rests with the Hybrid Court under Article 5.3,” the statement read.
The opposition further argued that the investigation into the Nasir clashes falls under the mandate of CTSAMVM and RJMEC, not one of the principal signatories to the peace agreement.
SPLM-IO insisted its forces were not involved in the violence and instead lost soldiers while facilitating the evacuation of Gen. Majur.
“This reckless move by SPLM-IG is a blatant violation of the peace agreement and risks derailing reconciliation and national healing,” Pal warned.
The group called for the immediate release of all detained members, reiterating that dialogue remains the only path to resolving the current stalemate in implementing the peace deal.
Regional and international observers are expected to closely watch developments, as the suspension of Machar—seen as a key guarantor of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS)—could plunge the country back into political crisis.
“The sham trial of Dr. Machar and other SPLM-IO leaders would shut the door on future political settlement,” the statement concluded.
