SPLM-IO becoming a weak peace partner in R-TGONU because of splits, internal fighting – IGAD envoy

JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar Teny is becoming weaker before its peace partners as a result of continued defections, internal power wrangling and splits, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan Ismail Wais has said.

This comes two months after an attempt by former SPLA-IO chief of military staff General Simon Gatwech Dual to remove Machar as Chairman and Commander in Chief of the main armed opposition SPLM/SPLA (IO) sparked deadly fighting in northern parts of the oil-rich Upper Nile state killing dozens and displacing many people.

Gatwech has claimed that Machar and his allies who are in Juba have surrendered to the government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit at the expense of the security arrangements and reforms provided for in the revitalized peace agreement signed by Machar, on behalf of the SPLM-IO, and President Salva Kiir Mayardit, on behalf of the former ITGONU, in 2018.

Speaking in an interview with the Juba-based UN Radio Miraya on Monday morning, IGAD Special Envoy for South Sudan Ismail Wais revealed that a delegation is about to step on plane to travel to Sudan where they will be going to Magenis and Kitgwang to investigate the recent split within the SPLM-IO.

The senior IGAD official further warned the SPLM-IO said the main armed opposition group was becoming weaker and weaker before its peace partners owing to continued splits, defection and internal fighting urging the Machar-led group to cement its unity so that it return to its political standing which he said is no more.

“Something happened on the ground, and we need to know what happened and what was the cause of these, talk to the people on both sides and find out how we can engage them, but as I said from the very beginning, this is an [SPLM-]IO internal dispute, it is a defection as I said, within the SPLM-IO and we have to see that as such,” Wais said.

“We have to tell the IO to clean their house as such they come to their original strength and also we told them that the more they become weaker, the more they fight and split, this will also weaker their position within the peace process,” he further added.