President Salva Kiir Mayardit has instructed the newly appointed Governor of Upper Nile, Gen. James Koang Chuol, to end the ongoing hostilities and restore peace in the region.
The President made the call during Gen. Koang’s swearing-in ceremony in Juba on Thursday, urging citizens to move beyond cycles of revenge and instead embrace unity and reconciliation for the nation’s collective good.
The ceremony saw widespread confidence in Gen. Koang’s ability to address the complex issues facing Upper Nile, particularly in his hometown of Nasir, which has been at the center of violence between the military and armed militia groups.
In response, Gen. Koang pledged to restore calm through dialogue, encouraging local communities to reject violence and embrace peaceful coexistence. As he assumes office, all eyes remain on Upper Nile, where the need for lasting peace is urgent.
However, Gen. Koang’s appointment has sparked political controversy. The President’s decision to replace James Odhok with Koang shifts the state’s leadership from the SPLM-IO to SPLM-IG, a move seen as contrary to the power-sharing arrangement in the 2018 peace agreement.
This has drawn strong criticism from the SPLM-IO, which condemned the unilateral decision as a violation of the peace deal.
Puok Both Baluang, Acting Press Secretary in the Office of the First Vice President, accused the SPLM-IG of undermining the peace agreement by consolidating control over Upper Nile, raising concerns about potential further tensions within the transitional government.
