JUBA – South Sudan’s First Vice President and leader of the main opposition group, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in Opposition (SPLM-IO), on Thursday wrote a letter to President Salva Kiir Mayardit, requesting a meeting to discuss security concerns in the country.
Machar, who chaired the Governance Cluster, penned a request in a letter seen by Sudan’s Post on Thursday to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Upper Nile, Western Equatoria, and Western Bahr el Ghazal states.
“I am writing again to request an audience with your Excellency to discuss the deteriorating security situation in Upper Nile State and Western Equatoria State, in particular,” Machar said, dated 20th February 2025.
He said the face-to-face meeting aims to also discuss the replacement of SSPDF in Nasir town, which has resulted in tension in the area.
Machar stated that recent violations in these states have been substantial and that he was prompted to discuss these issues with the guarantors in order to break the gridlock and find amicable solutions.
“In light of the above, I am writing to your Excellency and the Guarantors to report the systematic violations of the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).”
He said tension in most parts of the country threatens to reverse milestones achieved throughout the 2018 peace pact.
He warned that if this condition persists, it would potentially lead to the breakdown of security arrangements and the collapse of the agreement.
“On 5th January 2025, the SSPDF Regional Force Contingent, which was destined for deployment in DR Congo, was moved to Kubiri Bou of Nagero County of Western Equatoria State.”
He claimed that Futuyo and his family were forced to flee for their safety following an attack that left his residence burned to ashes.
He also claimed that on the same night, the SSPDF attacked the homes of key SPLM-IO members, including SPLM-IO-nominated ministers, forcing them to escape the state.
In Western Bahr El Gazal State, the FVP accuses the combined forces of the SSPDF and National Security Services of attacking Kubiri Ngap in Jur River County in mid-January.
“The villages of Kuanya and Bar Wol were attacked, and many civilians were displaced, property was looted, and many houses were burnt down,” he claimed.
He stated that the State Security Advisor and Commissioner of Jur River County had been arrested and detained by the National Security Services in Juba.
“The attack in Jur River County of Western Bahr El Gazal State is part of the wider national campaign to target the members and the areas controlled by the SPLM/SPLA-IO in the country,” he underscored.
Meanwhile, in Upper Nile State, Dr. Machar accused the combined force of the SSPDF and Agwelek and Abusok militias of being dispatched to Nasir County, which he said is a violation of the Permanent Ceasefire signed on December 21, 2017.
He cited that the deployment of Agwelek and Abusok militias, which are primarily made up of youth from certain villages, including the SSPDF, to Nasir County has sparked animosity among local youth in Ulang and Nasir Counties, exacerbating tension and insecurity in the state.
“On 25th February 2025, the SSPDF helicopter gunships in two separate incidences attacked the SPLA-IO assembly area and villages in Ulang County of Upper Nile State.”
In a joint statement, the African Union Mission in South Sudan (AUMISS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC) urge the government to immediately address tensions in three states.
“Specifically, AUMISS, IGAD, UNMISS, and RJMEC call upon the parties to urgently work together through the established mechanisms of the R-ARCSS to de-escalate the situation in order to restore calm in Upper Nile State,” the group said.
The bodies urged the parties to the 2018 peace agreement and the Joint Defense Board (JDB) to collaborate and quickly address the persisting security problems in all three states.
“We caution that if left unaddressed, these incidents could potentially undermine the Permanent Ceasefire, which remains the cornerstone of the Revitalized Peace Agreement,” it said.
They emphasize the need to progress the full and rapid unification and urgent deployment of the Necessary Unified Forces to boost public faith and trust in the government.
