The meeting, chaired by the party’s Secretary General, Dr. Akol Paul Kordit, reportedly condemned what it described as the humiliation and brutal killing of the commissioner who was affiliated with the ruling party.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the ruling party mourned Makuach, who also served as the SPLM chairperson in Akobo County, and accused the killers of desecrating his remains.
“We mourn the death of our Late Hon. Cde. James Kueth Makuach, who was killed in Welgak, Akobo West. This act, which included the humiliation of the victims’ remains, is a grave violation of human dignity and peace,” the statement said.
The SPLM-IG did not identify those responsible for the alleged humiliation of the commissioner. However, the statement followed the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLA-IO)’s announcement that it had captured Walgak after clashes with government-aligned forces.
Geolocation analysis by Sudans Post and multiple local sources on Sunday indicated that Makuach was killed during the fighting.
“The SPLM strongly condemns the brutal killing of SPLM Chairperson and the Commissioner of Akobo County in the strongest possible terms,” the party said.
The ruling party urged all armed groups and political actors to abandon violence, saying military confrontation would not resolve South Sudan’s political disputes.
“The Secretary General emphasize that there is no future in violence and urges all involved to abandon this path, opting instead for dialogue to resolve political disputes,” the statement said.
The SPLM-IG also appealed to the international community and regional partners to condemn the violence, arguing that attempts to gain political power through armed conflict threaten the country’s stability and peace efforts.
“On behalf of our Chairman H.E. Cde. Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the entire leadership of the SPLM, we extend our deepest condolences to the families of the Late Hon. Cde. James Kueth Makuach and all the comrades who perished alongside him in this brutal act,” Kordit said.
“We mourn our comrade and stand in solidarity with his family during this difficult time,” he added.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to peace and national reconciliation and appealed for calm as fighting continues in parts of Jonglei State, where renewed clashes have intensified concerns over the implementation of the 2018 Revitalized Peace Agreement.
