The rift in the SPLM-IO party widened further Tuesday as a group of leaders moved to hold a “consultative meeting” in Juba on Wednesday, while another faction led by the party’s acting chairman opposed the gathering.
The meeting, which is expected to include SPLM-IO members of the Political Bureau, National Liberation Council, and Parliament, will be held in Juba on Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time.
Tensions among opposition officials had been simmering since the house arrest of their leader, First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.
On Monday, Oyet Nathaniel, the party’s deputy chairman, suspended Stephen Par Kuol—the SPLM-IO’s nominated minister for national peacebuilding under the 2018 power-sharing deal—and three others. They were accused of fostering disunity and conspiring with President Salva Kiir and his SPLM party to replace Machar. Par dismissed the suspension, calling it “the joke of the year.”
Following Machar’s detention, several senior SPLM-IO members fled to neighboring countries or went into hiding. Last week, a group of SPLM-IO officials met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in Juba to discuss the political deadlock and Machar’s detention. However, party spokesperson Pal Mai said the meeting was not authorized by SPLM-IO leadership.
Ding Lam, a suspended senior SPLM-IO member, told Radio Tamazuj that Wednesday’s meeting aims to discuss the party’s next steps after Machar’s arrest.
“There has been a leadership vacuum, so the meeting aims to discuss the way forward, our chairman’s arrest, and how the party can pursue the peace process,” he said.
When asked if the meeting could lead to Machar’s replacement as party chairman and first vice president, Lam said it would focus on determining a path forward. He added that senior members might appoint interim leadership to oversee the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
“The meeting was called by members of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau in Juba, led by Stephen Par Kuol, a senior bureau member,” Lam said.
“The suspension of Political Bureau members by Oyet is invalid because you cannot suspend a member just by writing a letter. There are regulations and a constitution for disciplinary measures,” he added.
Lam, who was also suspended as a lawmaker by Oyet, accused the deputy chairman of fleeing the country and said senior members were working to sustain the peace process in Juba.
“The meeting that will take place on Wednesday has been communicated to all Political Bureau members, and we expect many to attend,” he said.
When contacted, acting SPLM-IO Chairman Oyet Nathaniel, who is also First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, rejected the meeting, calling it an attempt to undermine the 2018 peace deal.
“What is happening in Juba is backed by SPLM-IG [Kiir’s party], the SSPDF, Agwelek and Abushok militias, and Ugandan forces—all part of the plan to abandon the peace agreement,” he said.
Oyet accused Kiir of lacking the political will to implement the 2018 peace agreement and plotting to replace Machar as first vice president.
“They have been mobilizing SPLM-IO officials in Juba, offering positions and intimidating others. This won’t work—it’s the same as when Taban Deng replaced Machar in 2016,” he said.
“I am the acting chairman under our rules. Our secretary-general remains in place, but I have not called any National Liberation Council or Political Bureau meeting,” Oyet said.
Oyet declared the 2018 peace agreement “dead” after Machar’s detention, accusing Kiir and the National Security Service of backing Wednesday’s meeting to scuttle the deal.
“My message to SPLM-IG is to return to the peace agreement and release Dr. Machar,” he said.
Observers and citizens fear the tensions could further divide the SPLM-IO, as happened in July 2016 when then-chief negotiator Taban Deng Gai replaced Machar after violence in Juba.