By Chinasaokwu Helen Okoro
South Sudan’s main opposition movement is facing a serious internal rift.
On Wednesday, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), the political wing of the group, named Stephen Kuol Par as interim party chairman following the detention of longtime leader Riek Machar.
Par, formerly serving as Minister for Peacebuilding in the South Sudanese government, was suspended from both his ministerial role and party membership after accepting the interim leadership position.
The decision to sideline Machar—who has been under house arrest since late March—sparked strong backlash from the movement’s military wing, the SPLA-IO, which remains largely loyal to him. Several SPLM-IO members who also support Machar reportedly boycotted the meeting where the leadership change was announced.
Machar’s detention came two weeks ago, after President Salva Kiir accused him of inciting violent clashes against government troops in the country’s north.
Analysts warn that the infighting within South Sudan’s leading opposition party may further jeopardize the already fragile peace in the country. A 2018 peace agreement ended a five-year civil war, but its implementation has been sluggish.
Since then, South Sudan has postponed its transition several times and has yet to hold a presidential election.
With the latest outbreak of violence and mounting political tensions, experts caution that the country may be edging dangerously close to another civil conflict.
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