A serious disagreement looms within South Sudan United Movement (SSUM) after its leader, Denay Jock Chagor suspended three officials over alleged disobedience.

On 31 August, the SSUM leader issued an order that prevents three officials from undertaking any political activity and warned that they could face consequences should they disobey the order.

Those suspended are the deputy chief of staff for operations, Bedit Tut Yai, the foreign relations secretary, Makum Matop Thiang and SSUM’s spokesman and information secretary, Juan Dar.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Monday, Juan Dar said the chairman’s decision to suspend their membership was illegal, given that his term in office as interim chairman of SSUM expired on 16 August.

“The interim chairman suspended our activities after receiving the recommendations of our recent meeting, which decided that members of the movement should hold an emergency meeting on 6 September to discuss the situation within the movement,” Dar said.

"The suspension decision was made in Juba, not in the bush and we will go ahead with the emergency meeting,” he added.

Dar accused his boss of violating the movement’s objectives, adding that Chagor delayed in giving orders to the forces to report to the assembly areas as per the 2018 peace deal.

On his part, Denay Chagor confirmed that the three officials have been suspended pending investigations. “I asked them to go to the cantonment areas but they refused to do their assignment,” he said.

“Also, the three members abused the authority given to them, that’s why I decided to suspend them. The three individuals were not authorized to hold a party meeting in Khartoum, “he added.

In May, Chagor was appointed as head of the opposition South Sudan United Movement (SSUM) for three months after the death of its founder Gen. Peter Gatdet Yak.