In a series of orders released Saturday and dated 24/05/2025, Mr Oyet appointed Yolanda Awel Deng, the former Minister of Health, as the new Chairperson of the National Committee for Health, entrusting her with the critical task of advancing healthcare initiatives.
Concurrently, Paul Baba Ezibon was named Chairperson of the National Committee for Transport Systems, a role aimed at strengthening the party’s infrastructure agenda.
In a nod to the youth wing, Dut Majokdit was selected as Chairperson of the Students’ League, poised to galvanise young supporters. Additionally, Kech Nguoth Tiem was appointed Acting Chairperson of Relief Organisations for South Sudan, tasked with overseeing humanitarian efforts, while Wol Thompson Thoan was named Acting Chairperson for Business Enterprises Development to drive economic initiatives.
In a separate decision, Lam Jock was relieved of his duties as Deputy Representative of the SPLM-IO in Kenya.
No reasons for the party reshuffle were given by the Deputy Chairman, who fled the country in March amid a political crackdown targeting senior figures of the SPLM-IO.
With the First Vice President and the party’s chairman, Riek Machar, detained, the party has been gripped by a leadership crisis, which led to its split on factional lines.
The Minister of Peacebuilding, Stephen Par Kuol, currently leads a section of the SPLM-IO opposed to the leadership vacuum brought by Machar’s detention. But Par has struggled to gain recognition from senior SPLM-IO officials who reiterated their loyalty to Machar.
