The SPLM-IO has accused President Salva Kiir of violating the peace agreement for firing James Odhok and hiring a general loyal to him as the governor of Upper Nile State.
On Wednesday evening, Kiir showed Governor Odhok Oyai, an SPLM-IO nominee an exit door, and replaced him with Lt. Gen. James Koang, the SSPDF Assistant Chief of Defense Forces for Training and Research.
The move comes after deadly clashes earlier this month in Nasir, Upper Nile State, between the SSPDF and the SPLM-IO-allied White Army.
However, the SPLM-IO sees the decision as a violation of the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCISS), which allocated the Upper Nile governorship to the SPLM-IO and the deputy governor position to the SPLM.
Puok Both, the acting spokesperson for First Vice President Riek Machar, condemned the move, and said changing of guard constitutes another unilateral action and a severe violation of the 2018 Peace deal.
“This is to inform our members and the public that President Salva Kiir Mayardit’s decision to relieve the Governor of Upper Nile State, H.E. James Odhok Oyay, of his duties, and effectively consolidate control of the state within his party by appointing Lt. Gen. James Koang Chuol, Assistant CDF for Training and Research for the SSPDF, constitutes another unilateral action and a severe violation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement” he said.
He further accused President Kiir’s SPLM party of undermining the deal, stating, “It is evident that the SPLM-IG is no longer respecting the agreement.”
