The internal crisis within the SPLM-IO has escalated further after Interim Chairman, Stephen Par Kuol suspended 11 senior party members from Western Bahr el Ghazal State, deepening the divide in an already fractured movement.
The reason for the suspension has not been disclosed.
However, the suspensions were believed to have been directed at personnel who were accused of being insubordinate and disobeying Par’s leadership.
This development follows a major fallout in May this year, when 18 senior members of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau issued a statement rejecting Par’s interim leadership and reaffirmed their loyalty to the movement’s detained leader, Dr. Riek Machar.
In a swift response, Par suspended a total of 33 members linked to the statement including the minister of Interior Angelina Teny, who is Machar’s wife.
Critics argue that rather than fostering internal dialogue and reconciliation, Par is resorting to mass suspensions as a way to silence opposition and consolidate control.
His leadership style has been labeled increasingly authoritarian, drawing concern from within the party and among political observers.
With the SPLM-IO facing growing pressure to present a united front ahead of key peace implementation and electoral deadlines, the widening rift threatens to weaken its role in South Sudan’s political transition.
Whether Par’s disciplinary approach can stabilize the movement, or push it further toward collapse, remains to be seen.
