Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM/A-IO) has issued a letter suspending four senior members who committed to peace in Juba.
According to the statement issued by the party, the SPLM-IO leadership accused the four members for being used by Sudan People Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) to internally mobilize for the replacement of Dr. Riek Machar Teny who is under arrest.
This on itself becomes nother test to the 2018 peace agreement as the that’s it’s at is crucial stage implementation.
Acting Chairperson of the SPLM/A-IO Oyet Nathaniel Pierrino, accused the suspended officials of being used by President Salva Kiir to internally mobilize for the replacement of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The SPLM-IO members suspended included 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.
Oyet claimed that the members are suspended for creating internal disunity and planning to replace the party’s chair, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
However, on his part Par Kuol referred to his suspension a unilateral and a violation of the party’s regulations.
He said that the suspension did not follow the right procedure and instead accused Oyet of rebelling against the government.
“We call this a joke of the year! Nathaniel [Oyet] does not have constitutional powers to do that, he is doing it because he fled, and he does not control anything now. The problem is that he is hearing that we are organizing a National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting,” he explained.
The order issued by the acting SPLA-IO Chairperson explained that the members were suspended from their membership as well as their position the hold in government until the disciplinary committee solve their case.
“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.
This suspension order came a weeks after Hon. Stephen Par Kuol and the rest of the colleagues suspended reiterated their commitment to the 2018 peace agreement despites Acting chair Oyet pronounced it a collapsed agreement after Dr. Machar arrest.
According to the charges of suspension as Issued by Oyet who left Juba immediately after Dr. Machar arrest, Minister Par Kuol is accused for lobbying for the replacement of Dr. Machar.
“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.” reads the statement.
Oyet reiterated that the members suspended shall appear before a disciplinary committee that shall be constituted in accordance with the basic documents of the SPLM-IO.
