SPLM-IO condemns peace ‘violations’ as members continue to be arrested in Warrap

JUBA, MARCH 16, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) has issued a statement accusing the ruling SPLM faction of detaining its members in Warrap State.

In the statement extended to Sudans Post and signed by its chairman Kuec Deng Mayar, the group said the newly-appointed governor of Warrap state is not committed to peace implementation and lacks spirit of cooperation between the party signatories to the revitalized peace agreement.

“The Governor of Warrap State lacks the spirit of cooperation with other political parties in his Government and particularly SPLM-IO,” the group said in the statement, adding that the governor “instructed the Counties’ Commissioners who are members of his party to arrest any SPLM-IOMember found in their Counties wearing SPLM-IO T-shirts and undress them forcefully and thereafter burn them to ashes.”

The statement claimed that they have documented attempts to assassinated prominent members of the party in Warrap state including an attempt on the chairperson’s life during a visit to Tonj East County.

“There are signs of an attempt to assassinate the SPLM-IO Members. For example, the Rt. Hon. Speaker, who is also the Chairperson of SPLM-IOParty in Warrap State was about to be assassinated in Tonj East County during a Government mission together with the Governor,” the statement said.

“The  plan was cooked and the person who masterminded the assassination attempt goes by name Abraham Matoch. He was arrested through the orders of H.E the Governor but later freed without any legal procedures,” it added.

The statement further condemned the “violations” and called on the national government in Juba to intervene.

“The SPLM-IO Caucus in Warrap State, strongly condemns the serious violations that are ongoing since the appointment of H.E the Governor, H.E Eng. Manhiem Bol Malek to the State HQRS,” they said.

“Therefore, the SPLM IO leadership in the State urgently urges the National Government and peace guarantors to intervene over the violations of the Revitalized Peace Agreement particularly in Warrap State where peace is not respected.

“If the Governor of Warrap State does not want to cooperate with other political parties in his government, then it should be clear such that the leadership of SPLM IO should evaluate its alternatives.

“Therefore, we urge the National Government and peace guarantors to intervene for the protection of constitutional post holders under the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in Republic of South Sudan.

“The SPLM IO leadership in Warrap State calls upon the citizens of Warrap State to remain calm and we are still committed to the full implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in Republic of South Sudan.”