The main opposition group in South Sudan’s unity government officially declared the administration “collapsed” and illegitimate on Monday, vowing to pursue “regime change” after the indictment and suspension of its leader, First Vice President Riek Machar.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) said the government formed under a 2018 peace deal has been “destroyed” and accused President Salva Kiir’s faction of orchestrating a “setup of dictatorship” and “state capture.”
The declaration follows a three-day virtual meeting of the group’s political and military leadership, convened in response to the suspension of Machar and other officials. Machar, a longtime rival of Kiir, was recently indicted by the government over allegations related to a militia attack in the town of Nasir.
In a resolution signed by acting chairman Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, the SPLM-IO rejected the charges as a “politically motivated witch-hunt” and a violation of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
The group stated that the suspension of Machar — a key signatory to the peace accord — “effectively brings the implementation of the Political and Security provisions of the R-ARCSS to a complete stop.”
As a result, the movement concluded that the transitional government is no longer legally constituted and has lost its legitimacy. The resolution urged supporters and citizens to “report for National Service” and to “use all means available to regain their Country and Sovereignty.”
However, the statement did not clarify whether the group intends to withdraw its members from all transitional government structures.
The SPLM-IO also announced it would not recognize or participate in court proceedings against its members, labeling the judicial process “illegal” and “incompetent.” However, it acknowledged that legal professionals may engage on behalf of detainees on human rights grounds.
The statement called for the immediate and unconditional release of Machar and all political detainees, warning that failure to do so would lead the group to “use all means to demand their release.” The government in Juba has not yet responded to the declaration.