Appointment of interim leadership of SPLM-IO by some supporters dents party unity

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in opposition (SPLM-IO) parties under First Vice President Riek Machar, can no longer withstand the heavy blows it has suffered since the house arrest the latter in March.

The once formidable opposition party with armed wing is teetering on the verge of collapse, following the move by some party officials and supporters to appoint interim leadership led by Stephen Par Kuol.

Kuol, who is the national minister of peacebuilding and some of his cohorts have been criticized by the now exiled Deputy Chairperson of the party, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino of being compromised by the SPLM party to replace Machar and weaken the party.

It is not known whether Kuol’s appointment was blessed by Machar, who remains away from his party officials due to his restricted movement.

The latest development is reminiscent of 2016, when Machar was replaced by his former confidant Taban Deng Gai, as Vice President following renewed fighting that forced out Machar and his forces from the capital.

We hope that the appointment of the SPLM-IO leadership is not in violation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), which recognizes in writing Riek Machar as the legitimate leader of the SPLM-IO.