A faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) loyal to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has reaffirmed his position as the legitimate leader of the party, rejecting any claims of a leadership change.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday, senior SPLM-IO officials based in Juba, including Minister of Interior Anjelina Teny, dismissed recent assertions made by Stephen Par Kuol, who had declared himself the interim leader of the movement. The faction described Par Kuol’s claim as “null and void,” asserting it lacks legal and political basis.
“We reiterate that SPLM/A-IO has not undergone any change in leadership. The movement remains under the stewardship of Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon, with the existing political and military structures intact,” the statement read.
Dr. Machar, who has been under de facto house arrest in Juba since early 2024, has remained largely silent in recent weeks amid growing internal divisions and national tensions over the slow implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Despite reports of internal rifts and the mounting political crisis, the group loyal to Dr. Machar insists the peace agreement signed in 2018 has not collapsed but is currently undergoing its most serious test since its inception.
“This is not the end of the peace process,” the statement noted. “Rather, it is a critical moment that requires renewed commitment from all parties, including the presidency, to steer the country away from renewed conflict.”
The group also appealed to the regional guarantors of the peace agreement—including IGAD, the African Union, and international partners—to intervene urgently. They called for dialogue between President Salva Kiir Mayardit and Dr. Machar and demanded the immediate release of detained SPLM-IO members and officials, many of whom they claim are being held without charge.
Additionally, the Political Bureau encouraged SPLM-IO members and supporters to remain calm, focused, and committed to their responsibilities under the peace agreement, particularly as South Sudan moves closer to its planned national elections.
“This is the time for unity and leadership, not fragmentation. The SPLM-IO remains a key stakeholder in the peace process and will not be derailed by unconstitutional declarations,” the statement concluded.
The ongoing dispute highlights the fragile political environment in South Sudan, where unresolved tensions between rival factions threaten to undermine the transitional roadmap agreed upon by the parties.
Dr. Riek Machar, who played a pivotal role in negotiating the 2018 peace deal, has repeatedly called for the full implementation of the agreement, including critical provisions on security arrangements, constitutional reforms, and power sharing.
