The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has strongly condemned the recent unilateral removal of its members from key government positions by President Salva Kiir’s administration, calling the actions a blatant violation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
In a press statement issued on August 14, 2025, signed by Eng. Joseph Malwal Dong, Chairperson of SPLM/A-IO’s National Committee on Foreign Affairs, after a meeting of the Political Bureau of SPLM (IO), the group demanded the immediate reinstatement of its ousted officials and warned that such one-sided moves risk plunging the country back into conflict.
On August 13, 2025, several decrees issued by President Salva Kiir removed SPLM/A-IO members from the Transitional National Legislature, Executive, and Upper Nile State Legislative Assembly without consultation.
Those affected were Deng Deng Akoon and Matata Frank Elikana from the Council of States. Others were Former Deputy Speaker Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, Farouk Gatkuoth Kam, Gai Mayen Luke, Regina Joseph Kapa, and Juol Nhomngek Daniel from the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA).
Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning Bech George Anyak was also fired. In the Upper Nile State Legislative Assembly, Kiir sacked Yien Gach Ruei.
The latest sacking of SPLM-IO officials follows an earlier purge on August 6, 2025, which saw the removal of Minister of Water Resources Pal Mai Deng and TNLA Member Reath Muoch Tang.
Also, in what now seems like the dismantling of the SPLM-IO through the removal of loyalists of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, who is under house arrest, President Kiir removed Former Western Equatoria State Governor Alfred Futuyo of the SPLM-IO and replaced him with his own SPLM Party nominee, James Al-Tayib Jazz Birapai. Kiir has often unilaterally taken positions allocated to the SPLM-IO and other parties to the peace agreement and filled them with members of his SPLM Party, in contravention of the peace agreement.
The Political Bureau of SPLM (IO) resolved to reject the removals and demand reinstatement of all ousted members.
“The Political Bureau of SPLM (IO) accuses the Kiir-led government (ITGoNU/SPLM-IG) of sidelining the R-ARCSS and implementing an ‘unwritten agreement.’ Warn that these actions threaten peace and could reignite war,” the resolutions read in part. “Demand the unconditional release of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon (SPLM/A-IO leader) and other detained officials.”
The SPLM-IO Political Bureau called for dialogue between Machar and Kiir to salvage the stalled peace process and urged to International Community, regional bodies (IGAD, AU), and global partners (UN, EU, TROIKA) to intervene.
The SPLM-IO also urged South Sudanese citizens to recognize the violations of the peace agreement by President Kiir and his party.
