Facebook Twitter Instagram Somali Magazine - People's Magazine
South Sudan’s main opposition party, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), is facing its most significant internal crisis since its formation in 2013. A splinter group within the party has controversially ousted First Vice President Riek Machar as its leader, a move that threatens to unravel the fragile peace agreement underpinning the country’s transitional government.
The splinter group, led by Stephen Par Kuol, announced Machar’s removal during a meeting in Juba on April 9, 2025. Par was named interim chairman, with former Federal Affairs Minister Lasuba Wango appointed deputy interim chairman and Agok Makur as interim secretary-general. The meeting, however, was boycotted by key SPLM-IO figures, including Machar’s wife and Interior Minister Angelina Teny, as well as the party’s secretary-general Regina Joseph Kaba. Their absence underscored the deepening divisions within the party, with loyalists denouncing the meeting as illegitimate and politically motivated.
Par defended the decision, accusing Machar of failing to lead effectively while under house arrest, a restriction many believe to be politically driven. “Someone who fled cannot run the affairs of the movement from Facebook,” Par declared, insisting that the SPLM-IO headquarters remain in Juba, not online. He also announced the suspension of Machar’s deputy, Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, who is currently in exile.
The ouster has sparked widespread condemnation from Machar’s loyalists, who accuse the splinter group of colluding with President Salva Kiir’s government to undermine the SPLM-IO. Earlier this week, Oyet issued a statement suspending Par and others for allegedly conspiring to unseat Machar. Observers warn that this internal rift could render the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) null and void, raising fears of renewed instability in the world’s youngest nation.
The SPLM-IO has been a key player in South Sudan’s transitional government, which was formed under the 2018 peace deal to end five years of civil war. The agreement established a delicate power-sharing arrangement between Kiir’s Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), the SPLM-IO, and other armed groups. Machar’s removal, if confirmed, could upset this balance and push the country closer to political and security chaos.
The crisis comes at a critical juncture for South Sudan, as the transitional government struggles to implement key provisions of the peace agreement. These include the integration of rival forces into a unified national army, the adoption of a new constitution, and preparations for national elections. The SPLM-IO’s internal divisions threaten to derail these efforts, with analysts warning that the party’s fragmentation could embolden hardliners and undermine trust in the peace process.
The international community has expressed concern over the developments, urging all parties to prioritize dialogue and uphold the principles of the peace agreement. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which brokered the 2018 deal, has called for an emergency meeting to address the crisis and prevent further escalation.
For South Sudanese citizens, the SPLM-IO’s turmoil is a stark reminder of the challenges facing their nation’s path to stability. Many fear that the political infighting could reignite violence and derail progress toward peace and development. As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on whether the SPLM-IO can overcome its internal divisions and contribute to the broader goal of rebuilding South Sudan.