Synopsis
On April 10, the SPLM-IO appointed Stephen Par Kuol as interim Chairman, replacing Riek Machar, who is under house arrest. The move faced a boycott from top officials as the party remains committed to the peace agreement despite ongoing tensions.Key Takeaways
- Stephen Par Kuol appointed as interim Chairman.
- Riek Machar is still under house arrest.
- Party remains focused on the 2018 peace agreement.
- Criticism from Nathaniel Oyet Pierino regarding the new leadership.
- Call for the release of detained party members.
Juba, April 10 (NationPress) In a significant move, South Sudan's Opposition party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), has appointed Stephen Par Kuol as the interim Chairman, succeeding First Vice President Riek Machar, who remains under house arrest. Kuol, a member of the SPLM-IO political bureau and serving as the minister of peacebuilding in the transitional unity government, announced during a consultative meeting with party members in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, that he was chosen to lead the Opposition party in the absence of Machar, who was detained on March 26.
The party's National Liberation Council endorsed Losuba Ludoru Wongo as the deputy chairman and Agok Makur Kur as the secretary-general.
Kuol emphasized that the Opposition party is dedicated to implementing the 2018 revitalized peace agreement aimed at concluding years of conflict, despite assertions from Nathaniel Oyet Pierino, the now-exiled Deputy Chairman, that the peace agreement has failed.
He stated that the SPLM-IO interim leadership has distanced itself from Pierino, who has voiced criticism regarding the new leadership appointments, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Nonetheless, Pierino accused Kuol's leadership of being influenced by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement party, led by President Salva Kiir, with the aim of replacing Machar.
Kuol called for the immediate release of Machar and other senior party members still detained and urged all parties to cease military actions to foster an environment suitable for peaceful dialogue.
The meeting that established the interim leadership was largely boycotted by key SPLM-IO officials, including Regina Kaba, the party's Secretary-General, and Angelina Teny, Machar's wife and the country's interior minister.
Lam Paul Gabriel, spokesperson for the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), which is the armed faction of the party, expressed that they would not endorse the decision to appoint the new interim leadership. "The SPLM/A-IO operates under the complete command of Riek Machar, and during his absence, Nathaniel Oyet Pierino is in charge," Gabriel stated on Wednesday.
