Revitalized peace deal outsiders: who are they?

JUBA – South Sudan’s political scene is fraught with tension. Following independence from Sudan in 2011, the fledgling nation swiftly plunged into civil war, pitting President Salva Kiir Mayardit against his current first vice president and longtime rival, Riek Machar.

What is Happening?

Kiir and Machar are currently implementing a peace agreement signed in September 2018, known as the Revitalized Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). This agreement is called R-ARCSS because a previous peace agreement, known as the Agreement for the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS), collapsed after fighting broke out between Kiir and Machar’s forces at a presidential palace in Juba, nearly resulting in both leaders’ deaths.

The R-ARCSS was not solely negotiated by Kiir and Machar. The signatories expanded to five key groups and alliances:

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG): This is the ruling faction of the historical SPLM party, led by Kiir. Kiir assumed leadership following the death of founder John Garang in July 2005.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO): This is the main armed opposition faction of the ruling party, led by Riek Machar, who was the deputy head of the then-united SPLM until 2013 when he fell out with Kiir after announcing his bid for the presidency in the 2015 general elections.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Former Detainees (SPLM-FDs): This faction of the SPLM party comprises key leaders who did not side with either Kiir or Machar when the conflict began in December 2013. Previously led by Pagan Amum (now in exile leading a new faction called Real SPLM), it is currently led by Deng Alor Kuol, the South Sudan minister of East African affairs.

South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA): This is an alliance of eight opposition groups: People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) led by Joseph Lagu, South Sudan United Movement (SSUM) led by Denay Jock Chagor, South Sudan Liberation Movement (SSLM) led by Bapiny Manytuil, South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC) led by Joseph Bakosoro, Federal Democratic Party (FDP) led by Gabriel Changson Chang, National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Dr. Lam Akol, South Sudan Patriotic Movement/Army (SSPM/A) led by Costello Garang Ring, and National Salvation Front (NAS) led by General Thomas Cirilo. Its leadership is rotational, currently led by Joseph Lague.

Other Political Parties (OPP): This is an alliance of opposition groups that did not take up arms against the government. Based in Juba, it is led by Peter Mayen Majongdit, leader of the People’s Liberal Party (PLP).

Despite these groups being signatories to the R-ARCSS, dozens of opposition groups remain outside the South Sudan revitalized peace implementation process.

R-ARCSS Outsiders

National Salvation Front (NAS): This rebel group was formed in March 2017 by former South Sudan army commander General Thomas Cirilo Swaka. Cirilo was the deputy SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Army) chief of staff for logistics until his resignation a month before he formed the rebel group. Before the Sudan-led peace talks in Khartoum that culminated in the R-ARCSS, Cirilo was part of the SSOA. He withdrew in August 2018, one month before the agreement’s signing in Addis Ababa, and continued conflict against the government, mainly in the Greater Equatoria region. Cirilo was involved in talks with the government hosted by the Italian Community of Sant’Egidio, but these talks eventually faltered, and Cirilo declined an ongoing Kenyan-led initiative in Nairobi.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) Kitgwang: Led by former SPLA-IO chief of staff General Simon Gatwech Dual, this group is a faction of the main armed opposition SPLM/SPLA (IO) led by Riek Machar. It emerged in June 2021 following disagreement over Riek Machar’s 2020 return to Juba, which Gatwech claimed endangered civilian lives due to a lack of proper preparation for peace implementation and the government’s lack of political will to implement the peace agreement. The group is based in Magenis, a northernmost South Sudanese city in Upper Nile State’s Fashoda County. in January 2022, he signed a peace agreement with President Kiir’s government in Khartoum but that peace agreement stalled. He declined an invitation to the ongoing Nairobi peace initiative.

South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A): This opposition group was formed and is led by former South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF) commander General Stephen Buay Rolnyang. Buay, serving as the 5th infantry division commander in Western Bahr el Ghazal State’s Wau, was arrested in May 2018 while on a trip to his hometown of Mayom in Unity State over allegations of planning to join the rebels. After being captured following minimal clashes, he was flown to Juba, where he was detained until November 2019. He was stripped of his ranks and expelled from active military service. Buay, formerly a major-general, fled South Sudan, initially joining the South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led by Paul Malong before forming his own group in August 2021. One of his significant military operations was the July 22, 2022, attack on Mayom County headquarters, in which the county commissioner, Maj. Gen. Chuol Gatluak, was killed when a mortar struck and burned his house while he was sleeping. Buay’s forces, alleged to have fought alongside the RSF in Sudan, are located along the South Sudan-Sudan border in Unity State. It is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement, but is a part of the ongoing Nairobi initiative, a peace talk led by Kenya also known as Tumaini Initiative.

South Sudan United Front (SSUF): This rebel group was formed by former South Sudan army chief General Paul Malong Awan following a fall-out with President Salva Kiir in April 2018. Malong, who served as army chief until late 2017, was arrested and confined to Juba by the government. Later allowed to travel to Nairobi on medical grounds, Malong formed the rebel group in April 2018. Although Malong has not carried out significant military operations in South Sudan, many of his supporters have been arrested in Juba or Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, his home state. The group is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement, but is a part of the Tumaini Initiative.

Real SPLM – Pagan Amum Okiech: This faction of the SPLM party was formed in August 2019 by former SPLM Secretary-General Pagan Amum Okiech. The group is largely political with no military activities and is part of the ongoing Nairobi peace talks with the South Sudanese government.

Equatoria People’s Alliance (EPA): This holdout opposition group, led by Dr. Hakim Dario, formerly the leader of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) mainstream, was formed in 2022. It is not participating in any ongoing peace initiatives with the government.

National Democratic Movement (NDM-Patriotic Front): Led by Emmanuel Ajawin, this group emerged in August 2018 following the split of the NDM mainstream led by Dr. Lam Akol Ajawin. Although not part of the ongoing Nairobi peace initiative, it previously participated in the Rome peace talks, which brought the government together with holdout opposition groups. It is not a signatory to the 2018 peace agreement.

Revive South Sudan Party (RSSP): This political party was formed in August 2023 by former SPLA child soldier Peter Biar Ajak. The group aims to revive South Sudan’s SPLM vision by bringing peace and democracy. Its leader, Peter Biar, was arrested in the US in March 2024 over an alleged conspiracy to export weapons to South Sudan.

Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition – Reformists (SPLM-IO Reformists): This faction of the main armed opposition SPLM-IO is led by former SPLM-IO Governor of Sobat State, Duer Tut Duer Makuac. The group emerged in 2021 following disagreements between Duer and SPLM-IO leader Riek Machar over implementing the revitalized peace agreement, which Duer claimed was being sabotaged by President Kiir. He is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement and is not a participant in the ongoing Nairobi peace initiative.

United Democratic Revolutionary Movement (UDRM): Led by Deng Vanang, a former advocate of the main armed opposition SPLM-IO, this group’s activities are mainly political. Although it claims to have a military base, there is no evidence to support this. While the group is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement, it briefly participated in the ongoing Kenya-led Tumaini Initiative before withdrawing from the talks.

Patriots’ Resistance Movement (PRM): This opposition group, led by former defunct Northern Liech State deputy governor Lt. Gen. Laraka Machar Turoal, emerged in December 2023 after Laraka, who was the military chief of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang, fell out with Gatwech Dual. The group aims to seek peace with the government and is currently participating in the ongoing Nairobi peace talks. It is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement.

South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC): This is one of three factions of the SSNMC formed by Joseph Bakosoro. Led by Alex Lokadi, it is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement and is not part of the ongoing Tumaini initiative.

National Salvation Front Revolutionary Command Council (NAS-RCC): This faction of the National Salvation Front (NAS), formed by General Thomas Cirilo, emerged earlier this year and is led by Ladu Stephen. It is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement, but a part of the ongoing Nairobi Tumaini Initiative spearheaded by the Kenyan government.

South Sudan United Front Progressive (SSUF-P): This faction of the South Sudan United Front, established by General Paul Malong Awan in 2018, is led by the former spokesman of the SSUF, Emmanuel Sunday de’John. It is participating in the ongoing Nairobi peace talks with the South Sudanese government.

Upper Nile Liberation Front (UNLF): Led by Henry Oyai Ayago, this opposition group is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement but is a party in the ongoing Tumaini Initiative.

National People’s Movement (NPM): This largely political group, led by Matur Goriok, is not a signatory to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement but is currently part of the peace talks in Nairobi.

People’s Freedom Movement (PFM): Led by South Sudanese comedian Philip Omon Batilimeo, known by his stage name Feel Free, this new rebel group is active in Eastern Equatoria. Despite recent clashes with the government, it has not yet engaged in serious military combat against the government. It is not a party to the revitalized peace agreement and has not engaged in any peace process with the government.

Nilotia Peoples’ Movement (NPM): Led by General Peter Chuol Gatluak, this rebel group claims to have forces but has not engaged in military activities against the government. It is part of the ongoing Nairobi peace talks but withdrew after disagreements with SSPM leader Stephen Buay, who led the South Sudan United National Alliance (SSUNA), of which NPM is a member. It is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement.

People’s Coalition for Civil Action (PCCA): This civil rights movement’s leaders include activist Abraham Awolich, former Northern Bahr el Ghazal State governor Kuel Aguer Kuel, and activist Rajab Mohandis. Formed in August 2021, it called for protests to remove President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar from power for failing to implement peace deals and end the suffering of the South Sudanese people. They are not signatories but critics of the revitalized peace agreement and are part of the ongoing Nairobi peace talks.

South Sudan United Movement (SSUM): Led by Maj. General Bidiit Tayier Tim, a former SPLA-IO officer who defected from the group around 2018, this rebel group is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement and is not part of the ongoing Nairobi peace initiative, also known as the Tumaini Initiative.

South Sudan National Movement for Change (SSNMC): Led by Kwaje Lasu, this faction of the SSNMC is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement and is not part of the ongoing Nairobi process but has previously participated in the Rome peace talks with the government, which later collapsed.

Upper Nile Liberation Front (ULF): Led by former SPLM-IO activist Gatluak Raet Chuol, this opposition group seeks the independence of the Greater Upper Nile region, which he claims has been marginalized by President Kiir’s government. It is largely political with no military presence, is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement, and is not part of the Nairobi peace talks.

Democratic Resistance Movement (DRM): Led by Lako Kwajok, this opposition group calls for regime change and has some military presence. It is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement and is not participating in the Nairobi peace initiative.

South Sudan Rescue Front (SSRF): Led by Kamin Vurve, this opposition group is not a signatory to the revitalized peace deal and is not participating in the Kenyan peace talks.

United South Sudan Revolutionary Movement (USSRM): Led by former SPLA-IO commander General Chuol Geaka, this group aims to liberate the country from President Kiir’s government. It is not a signatory to the 2018 peace deal and is not part of the ongoing Nairobi peace initiative.

South Sudan United National Front (SSUNF): Led by former SPLA-IO general General Philip Stephen Dak Onwar, this opposition group is not a member of the revitalized peace agreement and is not participating in the Nairobi peace talks.

National Salvation Front United Forces (NASUF): This new rebel group, a faction of NAS led by General Thomas Cirilo, is led by Major General Kohn Kenyi Lotio and was formed in mid-June 2024. It is not a signatory to the revitalized peace agreement and is not participating in the ongoing Nairobi peace initiative.