SPLA-IO generals in Unity state still loyal to Machar but are ‘disgruntled’ by peace process – Small Arms Survey

JUBA – An international research group says opposition commanders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO) in South Sudan’s Unity State are still loyal to First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny despite the opposition split in August, but are disgruntled by the frustrated peace process in Juba.

The Small Arms Survey said opposition commanders it interviewed in Unity state since the split within the SPLA-IO rank and file have acknowledged, however, that the opposition infighting might benefit the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit which they said is deliberately jeopardizing the peace implementation process.

“The SPLA-IO in Unity state remains loyal to Machar, but the rank-and-file there are also disgruntled with the peace process. The spectre raised by this is of a return to an earlier scenario during the second Sudanese civil war, and an intraNuer ‘civil war’ between the Lou Nuer and the Nuer sections loyal to Machar,” said the Small Arms Survey report, which is linked for download below.

“However, opposition members interviewed for this Update are cognisant that such a fracture in the opposition would play into the government’s hands. At present, intraNuer conflict seems a remote possibility,” it added.

The report said “the SPLA-IO-split is in continuity with the divisions created by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, which brought an end to the second Sudanese civil war. None of the SPLA-IO [Kitgwang] commanders were in the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), meaning none were part of the post-CPA political compact that benefitted from donor funds and oil revenues over the next decade.”

“Amid devastating seasonal floods, a stalled SSR process, escalating economic collapse, and continuing violence, Gatwech’s message of combatting nepotism and corruption in Juba, while addressing the failure of the peace agreement to bring positive developments to the people of South Sudan, has fallen on receptive ears.”

SMALL ARMS SURVEY REPORT IN PDF.