SPLM-IO suspends four senior members over plot to overthrow Machar

JUBA —South Sudan’s main armed opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), has suspended four top party members over a plot to overthrow their chairperson, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, and create division within the party.

Stephen Phar Kuol, minister of peace building; Agok Majur Kur, national member of parliament; Diing Lam, national member of parliament; and Luke Thoan Teny, member of the East African Legislative Assembly, have been suspended for creating internal disunity and planning to replace the party’s chair, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

Oyet Nathaniel Pierrino, acting chairperson of the SPLM/A-IO, accused the suspended officials of being used by President Salva Kiir to internally mobilize for the replacement of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

“I, Cde. Oyet Nathaniel Pierrino, acting chairperson of the SPLM/A-IO, do hereby issue this order to suspend the following members from their respective duties and membership of the party in accordance with sections 16.3 and 16.4 of the party’s Code of Conduct for engaging in subversive demand as serious offenses under section 14.5 of the code of conduct,” Oyet said in a letter seen by Sudans Post on Monday.

“Hon. Stephen Par Kuol was suspended from being a member of the Political Bureau, National Liberation Council, SPLM-IO representative to RIMEC, membership of the party, and his position as a National Minister of Peace Building on the SPLMIO ticket,” he said.

“Charges: Hon. Par Kuol engaged in activities in support of the SPLM-IG to create disunity in the party and abrogate the R-ARCSS by mobilizing for the replacement of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan and the Chairman and Commander in Chief of the SPLM/SPLA-IO. He is acting with the support of the SPLM-IG political and security apparatus to orchestrate this plan.”

He said those comrades shall appear before a disciplinary committee that shall be constituted in accordance with the basic documents of the SPLM-IO.