Senior officers of the opposition SPLA-IO in Western Bahr el Ghazal State have rejected new promotions and plans to integrate some of their forces into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).
The reported integration took place at the Fifth Infantry Division headquarters in Grinti, Wau, where more than 100 SPLA-IO officers from different ranks were promoted and decorated.
According to the authorities overseeing the process, the promotions were confirmed by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
But Maj. Gen. Hakim Peter Akuei, commander of Sector Seven of the SPLA-IO in Western Bahr el Ghazal, told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the promotions had not been agreed with the SPLA-IO leadership.
“We are receiving reports that new promotions have been done in Wau and that the generals will be integrated into the SSPDF ranks,” Gen. Akuei said.
He said the officers named in the promotions are not part of a process recognised by the SPLA-IO leadership.
Gen. Akuei also accused Western Bahr el Ghazal Governor Sherif Daniel Sherif of attempting to integrate SPLA-IO forces without consultation with the opposition leadership under Riek Machar.
“We have not had any contact with the governor since he was appointed,” he said.
Governor Sherif is also a senior member of the SPLA-IO faction led by National Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol.
Meanwhile, Brig. Gen. Gabriel Marjan Louis also rejected reports that a new list of SPLA-IO generals had been approved in Juba as part of the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement.
“We want to reject what is being said in Juba that the peace agreement has been completed and that a new list of generals has been promoted to new ranks,” he said.
He said the officers named are not part of a process recognised by the SPLA-IO.
“For those who have been named and promoted, we wish them well,” he said.
Gen. Louis said the SPLA-IO Officers would not recognise the changes without instructions from Machar.
“We have not been directed by our leader, Dr. Riek Machar. Until then, we are not part of the government,” he said.
The dispute comes as South Sudan’s 2018 peace agreement continues to face delays in implementation, including the unification of government and opposition forces. The process has been further complicated by tensions between the government and Machar, who has been under house arrest in Juba since March 2025.
The SPLA-IO is also witnessing internal disputes and fragmentation over leadership as Machar remains under house arrest in Juba.
The Western Bahr el Ghazal state government could not immediately be reached for comment.
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