JUBA — The command of South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO), led by the suspended first vice president, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, has endorsed the appointment of Regina Joseph Kaba as the party’s Acting Interim Deputy Chair.
The decision was reached during a high-level command meeting held Thursday, bringing together senior commanders from various SPLA-IO sectors and divisions to discuss recent political developments within the movement’s leadership.
In its resolutions, the command said it had accepted and adopted the resolutions of the SPLM/A-IO Political Bureau meeting held on August 31, 2026, including Kaba’s appointment.
The military leadership also reaffirmed Lt. Gen. Peter Thok as the only Acting Chief of General Staff of the SPLA-IO.
A statement issued on Thursday by Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, Acting SPLA-IO Spokesperson, said command further reaffirmed its allegiance to the SPLA-IO chain of command, saying directives from the Commander-in-Chief must be respected, enforced, and implemented.
“The Command reaffirms its absolute allegiance to the chain of command of the SPLA/IO; All directives from the C-in-C shall be respected, enforced, and implemented in totality without question,” read part of a statement seen by Sudans Post on Thursday.
Col. Lam said the SPLA-IO remains united and committed to its stated mission of pursuing genuine peace for the people of South Sudan.
“The Command accepts and adopts the resolutions of the Political Bureau meeting held on August 31, 2026, and acknowledges the appointment of Hon. Regina Joseph Kaba as the Acting Interim Deputy Chair of the SPLM/A-IO,” Lam said.
He said the command also directed the public and media outlets to recognize only statements issued by the SPLA-IO military spokesperson as the official position of the opposition forces.
“The command calls on the general public and media outlets to only acknowledge and recognize statements from the military spokesperson as the official position of the SPLA-IO.”
He said the Command banned its military wing, the SPLA-IO Forces, from using the “Viva” slogan.
“All Sector, Division, and Independent Specialized Unit Commanders are directed to disseminate these resolutions to all forces under their command, and strict adherence is mandated.”
