South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Simon Deng
The faction of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) led by Hussein Abdelbagi Akol has reaffirmed that all its forces, including those graduated and those still in training, are fully under the unified command of the Chief of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
Stephen Lual Ngor, the Official Spokesperson for the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), stated that the opposition alliance has reaffirmed its commitment to peace, unified command, and general elections.
“Our forces have been officially integrated into the national structure through a transparent unification process. This process was marked by a landmark graduation ceremony attended by His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit and various regional leaders. It was unequivocally reaffirmed that President Kiir is the sole Commander-in-Chief of all organised forces in South Sudan,” Ngor said on Wednesday in a statement issued in Juba.
Ngor revealed that the arrangement to unify the forces is in strict compliance with the directives of Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, the former Vice President and current Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.
Ngor also stated that the directive for the unification of forces aligns with the provisions of the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Ngor added that SSOA remains fully committed to the implementation of the peace agreement, building national unity, and the formation of a professional, inclusive army that reflects the diverse fabric of South Sudan and safeguards the nation’s sovereignty and dignity.
“The SSOA underscores that it has no parallel forces operating outside the agreed security framework. We categorically reject any form of misinformation aimed at undermining our commitment to peace. The notion of maintaining multiple armies is completely unacceptable and stands in direct violation of the peace agreement—a red line that cannot be crossed,” he said.
“We urge all armed groups still outside the peace framework to lay down their weapons and join the national effort towards sustainable peace and development. The Alliance strongly supports the conduct of democratic elections by the end of 2026, within an environment of peace, inclusivity, and political stability.”
