SPLM-IO governor says Oyet suspension came ‘directly’ from Machar

JUBA — A senior official of South Sudan’s main armed opposition group said on Friday that the suspension of acting chairman Oyet Nathaniel was ordered directly by detained leader Riek Machar, weighing into a leadership dispute that has fractured the movement’s political and military ranks.

Dhoal Koryom Lingling, an opposition-appointed governor for Unity State, said Oyet remains a member of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) despite the suspension and could resume his duties if he accepts the decision.

“The reason why I am speaking to the media is because I know where this order is coming from. Oyet appointed me as governor, by the way,” Koryom said in recorded statements on Friday morning.

“If I thought the way you do, I could speak the way you do. But the truth is that Oyet was suspended directly by the chairman (Riek Machar). If you are not aware of that, you should seek that information,” Koryom said.

Koryom did not explain how Machar, who has been held in detention since March 2025, communicated the decision or specify when it was issued.

Under the movement’s official leadership structure, Machar remains chairman and commander-in-chief, while Oyet serves as his deputy. Oyet has been exercising acting leadership responsibilities during Machar’s detention.

“Oyet has not been expelled from the movement. He is still a member,” Koryom said. “If he respects the chairman’s decision, he will return to his duties as deputy chairman and acting chairman.”

The comments add new complexity to a leadership crisis that erupted publicly this week after Oyet suspended interim Secretary-General Regina Joseph Kaba and seven other senior officials, accusing them of misconduct and attempting to undermine his authority.

Oyet said the suspensions were disciplinary measures authorized under the group’s constitution and internal regulations. He accused several members of the Political Bureau of attempting to interfere with the movement’s constitutional order and destabilize its leadership.

Kaba rejected Oyet’s authority to suspend her and issued a counter-directive suspending him as deputy chairman and acting chairman. She also instructed the movement’s political, military, financial, and administrative structures to disregard directives or appointments issued by Oyet.

The dispute has since spread to the SPLA-IO military command.

Senior military commanders meeting this week endorsed the Political Bureau’s resolutions and recognized Kaba as Acting Interim Deputy Chair, while reaffirming Lt. Gen. Peter Thok as the sole Acting Chief of General Staff, according to a statement by the SPLA-IO spokesman.

The command said that directives from “the commander-in-chief” must be respected and implemented. While the statement did not mention Machar by name in that context, its reference to the commander-in-chief appeared to suggest that the decisions had Machar’s backing.

The conflicting decisions have raised questions over who holds political and military authority within the movement while Machar remains unable to lead directly.

Koryom’s assertion that Machar personally authorized Oyet’s suspension could prove significant, as rival factions continue to declare loyalty to Machar while contesting who holds the authority to run the movement in his absence.

Sudans Post could not independently verify whether Machar had personally communicated or approved Oyet’s suspension.