The two factions of the holdout opposition groups, South Sudan Opposition Movements Alliance (SSOMA), have agreed to reunite, the Rome-based mediating body said.

“What is new is that the former SSOMA factions decided to reunite. The former SSOMA parties have decided to be together, they are not SSOMA anymore; they are now called Non-Signatories South Sudanese Oppositions Group,” Paolo Impagliazzo, secretary-general of Sant'Egidio Community, told Radio Tamazuj Monday.

Paolo disclosed that the Community of Sant'Egidio Community, which has been facilitating the talks, plans to organize a meeting bringing together the Non-Signatories South Sudanese Oppositions Group (NSSSOG) and the South Sudan government in Rome, Italy, next month.

“So this is the new thing for us. There is a possibility of organizing a meeting for all of them. The meeting is expected to be in mid-November in Rome, but the date is yet to be set,” Paolo explained.

Meanwhile, Garang Malual, the official spokesperson of the opposition South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by General Paul Malong, confirmed that the two factions have reunited their ranks.

“The new name for the group is Non-Signatories South Sudanese Oppositions Group. SSOMA led by General Thomas Cirillo, and SSOMA, led by General Paul Malong and Pagan Amum, have come together. The spokesperson of the new alliance is Pagan Amum,” Malual said.

The move to reunite the two factions comes after a meeting in Rome, Italy, in the second week of this month.

Gen. Paul Malong Awan and Pagan Amum had been leading a faction of SSOMA. The faction comprised two organizations, the Real SPLM and the South Sudan United Front (SSUF).

The other SSOMA faction was led by General Thomas Cirillo. It consisted of the National Salvation Front (NAS); the National Democratic Movement-Patriotic Front (NDM-PF); the South Sudan National Movement for Change/Army (SSNMC/A); and the United Democratic Revolution Movement/Army (UDRM/A). 

SSOMA split over differences in October 2020.