Latest news with #SPLM
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
South Sudan's President Kiir promotes sanctioned ally as ruling party deputy
NAIROBI (Reuters) -South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has reshuffled the senior leadership in the ruling party, according to an official decree, as the country faces fresh fighting between rival armed factions and widespread speculation about Kiir's succession plans. Kiir, 73, promoted sanctioned ally Second Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel as his SPLM party's deputy chairperson, according to a decree read on the state broadcaster on Tuesday night, weeks after the United Nations said the country was on the brink of civil war. Seen widely by political analysts as Kiir's chosen successor, Bol Mel was sanctioned by the United States in 2017 over suspicions his construction company received preferential treatment in the awarding of government contracts. If Kiir stepped down, Bol Mel's new role as the SPLM party's deputy chairperson would make him acting president of the country. The reshuffle follows months of political uncertainty in which authorities placed Kiir's longtime rival First Vice President Riek Machar under house arrest, accusing him of trying to stir a rebellion. Machar's opposition party denied the charges, and said the move effectively voided a 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year civil war between Kiir's Dinka forces and Nuer fighters loyal to Machar. Western countries, including the United States, Britain and Germany closed embassies or cut back operations in South Sudan. Tuesday night's ruling party shake-up saw Kiir demote three veterans of South Sudan's liberation struggle, including former Second Vice President James Wani Igga, according to the decree read on state television on Tuesday night.
The Star
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
South Sudan's President Kiir promotes sanctioned ally as ruling party deputy
FILE PHOTO: South Sudan's President Salva Kiir Mayardit arrives at Khartoum airport, Sudan November 1, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/File Photo NAIROBI (Reuters) -South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has reshuffled the senior leadership in the ruling party, according to an official decree, as the country faces fresh fighting between rival armed factions and widespread speculation about Kiir's succession plans. Kiir, 73, promoted sanctioned ally Second Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel as his SPLM party's deputy chairperson, according to a decree read on the state broadcaster on Tuesday night, weeks after the United Nations said the country was on the brink of civil war. Seen widely by political analysts as Kiir's chosen successor, Bol Mel was sanctioned by the United States in 2017 over suspicions his construction company received preferential treatment in the awarding of government contracts. If Kiir stepped down, Bol Mel's new role as the SPLM party's deputy chairperson would make him acting president of the country. The reshuffle follows months of political uncertainty in which authorities placed Kiir's longtime rival First Vice President Riek Machar under house arrest, accusing him of trying to stir a rebellion. Machar's opposition party denied the charges, and said the move effectively voided a 2018 peace deal that ended a five-year civil war between Kiir's Dinka forces and Nuer fighters loyal to Machar. Western countries, including the United States, Britain and Germany closed embassies or cut back operations in South Sudan. Tuesday night's ruling party shake-up saw Kiir demote three veterans of South Sudan's liberation struggle, including former Second Vice President James Wani Igga, according to the decree read on state television on Tuesday night. (Reporting by Nairobi Newsroom; Writing by Hereward Holland; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
BBC News
11-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
South Sudan tensions: Fears grow of return to civil war between Riek Machar and Salva Kiir
Rising tensions in the east African country of South Sudan, culminating in the 26 March arrest of Vice-President Riek Machar, have sparked concerns that the world's youngest nation is heading for another civil party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO), has said that his house arrest "effectively brings… to a collapse" the fragile 2018 peace agreement that ended five years of fighting. What's the background? South Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of struggle led by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), now under President Salva two years into independence, a civil war erupted when Kiir dismissed Machar as vice-president, accusing him of plotting a ensuing conflict, largely fought along ethnic lines between supporters of the two leaders, resulted in an estimated 400,000 deaths and 2.5 million people being forced from their homes – more than a fifth of the part of the peace deal, Machar was reinstated as vice-president within a unity government that was meant to pave the way for elections. Why is there tension now? The current crisis was sparked at the beginning of March when the White Army militia, which was allied to Machar during the civil war, clashed with the army in Upper Nile state and overran a military base in on 7 March a UN helicopter attempting to evacuate troops came under fire, leaving several dead, including a high-ranking army three weeks later, Machar and several of his associates were arrested. They were accused of trying to stir up a rebellion."The prospect for peace and stability in South Sudan has now been put into serious jeopardy," Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, deputy leader of SPLM-IO, said at the time. What about the 2018 peace deal? While Machar's inclusion in the unity government was a key part of the agreement, other parts of it have not been key issue for many South Sudanese is the security deal outlined how former rebel forces and government soldiers would be brought together into a unified national army made up of 83,000 troops. The remainder were supposed to be disarmed and this has not happened and there are still lots of militias aligned to different political deal also outlined the establishment, with the help of the African Union, of a court meant to try the perpetrators of the violence. But this has not been created, in part because those holding some of the top positions in government are reluctant to set up something that could see them put on that were supposed to happen in 2022 have still not taken place and neither has a new constitution been drawn up. What is the problem between Machar and Kiir? While Kiir and Machar, both in their 70s, were part of the SPLM that fought for independence, long-standing tensions have been fuelled by ethnic divisions – Kiir is Dinka, while Machar is Nuer – and competing political Kiir sacked Machar in 2013, triggering the civil war, Machar denounced him as a "dictator".Creating further problems between the two are the repeated postponements of elections. Polls have been delayed four times, leaving Machar unable to fulfil his presidential ambitions. Who is Riek Machar? Born in 1952, the 72-year-old was the 27th son of the chief of Ayod and Leer and was brought up in the Presbyterian an undergraduate, he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Khartoum and in 1984 earned a PhD in philosophy and strategic planning at the UK's Bradford switched sides on several occasions during the battle to secede from Sudan, as he sought to strengthen his position and that of his Nuer ethnic group. He became vice-president of South Sudan at independence in 2011. Machar was sacked in 2013 and then reinstated as part of a deal in 2016, but then fled as fighting resumed. Who is Salva Kiir? Born in 1951, the 73-year-old devout Roman Catholic was the son of a cattle herder and the eighth of nine 17, he joined the Anyanya, one of the rebel groups that was fighting for southern independence during the First Sudanese Civil War in 1967. Sixteen years later - in the Second Sudanese Civil War - he was one of the five founding members of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/ former rebel commander, who specialised in military intelligence, was seen as a moderate within the SPLM and became its leader in 2005 after the death of John Garang in a helicopter crashHe became president of South Sudan on independence and has remained in that position for 14 years as no elections have taken place. How bad could things get? Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, has warned the country is "teetering on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war", which would devastate the nation that is still dealing with the aftermath of the last are concerns that a return to fighting could lead to "proxy warfare in the region", according to Daniel Akech, an analyst at the Crisis Group think-tank."South Sudan is filled with so many armed groups, they're all seeming to be gearing up for military engagement."The war in neighbouring Sudan adds another element of instability. What is being done to ease the tensions? The leaders of the members of the regional grouping Igad – including Uganda - are supposed to be the guarantors of the 2018 President Yoweri Museveni was in Juba recently and met Kiir, but the outcome of their discussions is not troops were also deployed to the country last month. South Sudan's government said the deployment was part of a long-standing agreement with its neighbour and the soldiers are there to support the army. An African Union delegation was also in the capital and, as well as talking to the president, diplomats hoped to sit down with Machar – but that did not happen. There has been not a statement from the AU in the wake of the embassies – including the US and the UK – have released statements calling for the de-escalation of tensions, but it is not clear what impact these have had. More BBC stories on South Sudan: Pontiff urges people to reject 'venom of hatred''We walked for nine days to see the Pope'The basketball team forging a 'new story' for South Sudan Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why fears are growing of a return of civil war to South Sudan
Rising tensions in the east African country of South Sudan, culminating in the 26 March arrest of Vice-President Riek Machar, have sparked concerns that the world's youngest nation is heading for another civil war. His party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement In Opposition (SPLM-IO), has said that his house arrest "effectively brings… to a collapse" the fragile 2018 peace agreement that ended five years of fighting. South Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, gained independence from Sudan in 2011 after decades of struggle led by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), now under President Salva Kiir. Just two years into independence, a civil war erupted when Kiir dismissed Machar as vice-president, accusing him of plotting a coup. The ensuing conflict, largely fought along ethnic lines between supporters of the two leaders, resulted in an estimated 400,000 deaths and 2.5 million people being forced from their homes – more than a fifth of the population. As part of the peace deal, Machar was reinstated as vice-president within a unity government that was meant to pave the way for elections. The current crisis was sparked at the beginning of March when the White Army militia, which was allied to Machar during the civil war, clashed with the army in Upper Nile state and overran a military base in Nasir. Then on 7 March a UN helicopter attempting to evacuate troops came under fire, leaving several dead, including a high-ranking army general. Nearly three weeks later, Machar and several of his associates were arrested. They were accused of trying to stir up a rebellion. "The prospect for peace and stability in South Sudan has now been put into serious jeopardy," Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, deputy leader of SPLM-IO, said at the time. While Machar's inclusion in the unity government was a key part of the agreement, other parts of it have not been implemented. The key issue for many South Sudanese is the security arrangement. The deal outlined how former rebel forces and government soldiers would be brought together into a unified national army made up of 83,000 troops. The remainder were supposed to be disarmed and demobilised. But this has not happened and there are still lots of militias aligned to different political groups. The deal also outlined the establishment, with the help of the African Union, of a court meant to try the perpetrators of the violence. But this has not been created, in part because those holding some of the top positions in government are reluctant to set up something that could see them put on trial. Elections that were supposed to happen in 2022 have still not taken place and neither has a new constitution been drawn up. While Kiir and Machar, both in their 70s, were part of the SPLM that fought for independence, long-standing tensions exist. These have been fuelled by ethnic divisions – Kiir is Dinka, while Machar is Nuer – and competing political ambitions. When Kiir sacked Machar in 2013, triggering the civil war, Machar denounced him as a "dictator". Creating further problems between the two are the repeated postponements of elections. Polls have been delayed four times, leaving Machar unable to fulfil his presidential ambitions. Born in 1952, the 72-year-old was the 27th son of the chief of Ayod and Leer and was brought up in the Presbyterian Church. As an undergraduate, he studied mechanical engineering at the University of Khartoum and in 1984 earned a PhD in philosophy and strategic planning at the UK's Bradford University. He switched sides on several occasions during the battle to secede from Sudan, as he sought to strengthen his position and that of his Nuer ethnic group. He became vice-president of South Sudan at independence in 2011. Machar was sacked in 2013 and then reinstated as part of a deal in 2016, but then fled as fighting resumed. Born in 1951, the 73-year-old devout Roman Catholic was the son of a cattle herder and the eighth of nine children. At 17, he joined the Anyanya, one of the rebel groups that was fighting for southern independence during the First Sudanese Civil War in 1967. Sixteen years later - in the Second Sudanese Civil War - he was one of the five founding members of the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement. The former rebel commander, who specialised in military intelligence, was seen as a moderate within the SPLM and became its leader in 2005 after the death of John Garang in a helicopter crash He became president of South Sudan on independence and has remained in that position for 14 years as no elections have taken place. Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN mission in South Sudan, has warned the country is "teetering on the brink of a return to full-scale civil war", which would devastate the nation that is still dealing with the aftermath of the last conflict. There are concerns that a return to fighting could lead to "proxy warfare in the region", according to Daniel Akech, an analyst at the Crisis Group think-tank. "South Sudan is filled with so many armed groups, they're all seeming to be gearing up for military engagement." The war in neighbouring Sudan adds another element of instability. The leaders of the members of the regional grouping Igad – including Uganda - are supposed to be the guarantors of the 2018 deal. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni was in Juba recently and met Kiir, but the outcome of their discussions is not known. Ugandan troops were also deployed to the country last month. South Sudan's government said the deployment was part of a long-standing agreement with its neighbour and the soldiers are there to support the army. An African Union delegation was also in the capital and, as well as talking to the president, diplomats hoped to sit down with Machar – but that did not happen. There has been not a statement from the AU in the wake of the visit. Western embassies – including the US and the UK – have released statements calling for the de-escalation of tensions, but it is not clear what impact these have had. Pontiff urges people to reject 'venom of hatred' 'We walked for nine days to see the Pope' The basketball team forging a 'new story' for South Sudan Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fears of civil war in South Sudan stem from political rivalry between the president and his deputy
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Tensions are rising in the oil-rich east African nation of South Sudan after Riek Machar, who serves as one of the country's vice presidents, was arrested in the capital. Machar's arrest in Juba on Wednesday followed detentions of his allies in the government and the army, including the army's deputy chief. Machar's political group said Thursday that a 2018 agreement that's the basis for relative peace after a brutal civil is effectively over, raising fears of a return to warfare as government troops loyal to President Salva Kiir battle soldiers and armed militia loyal to Machar. Here's a look at the issues underpinning the conflict in South Sudan: Why is there friction between Kiir and Machar? Both Kiir and Machar are historical leaders of the rebel movement — the Sudan People's Liberation Movement, or SPLM — that secured South Sudan's independence from Sudan in 2011. But they are from rival ethnic groups: Kiir is from the Dinka, the largest, and Machar is from the Nuer, the second-largest. Their military rivalry began in the 1990s, when Machar led a breakaway unit that drew accusations of treachery against him. Amid the split, forces loyal to Machar carried out a massacre in the town of Bor that targeted the Dinka, angering rebel commander Kiir and John Garang, the movement's now-deceased political figurehead. Fighting among southerners briefly undermined their struggle for independence, but it also planted lifelong distrust between Kiir and Machar. Analysts say Machar and Kiir don't see eye to eye even as they work together, and their feud has grown over the years as Machar waits his turn to become president and Kiir hangs on in the presidency. In 2013, citing a coup plot, Kiir fired Machar as his deputy, and later that year violence erupted in Juba as government soldiers loyal to Kiir fought those devoted to Machar in the start of a civil war that killed an estimated 400,000 people. What does Machar want? Machar has served as South Sudan's No. 2 official on and off since 2011. But there have been no elections since then, keeping him in the deputy's position and without real executive authority. Machar's wish is to become president in fulfilment of a century-old prophecy by a seer from his tribe who predicted that a man with a gap between his front teeth and left-handed would one day lead the nation. Machar, who has three university degrees, believes himself to be that man. The superstition can seem odd, but many people see it as one factor fueling Machar's ambitions. Tensions between Machar and Kiir have grown with the repeated postponement of elections in South Sudan. A vote is now scheduled for December 2026, security conditions allowing, and Machar is expected to be a candidate. He describes Kiir as a dictator, saying his unilateral political maneuvers, including firing officials, undermine the peace agreement that brought them together in a government of unity. What's in the 2018 peace agreement? The agreement, signed with the support of the U.S. and others, included security guarantees for Machar to be able to return to Juba as Kiir's deputy. Fighters loyal to him are located at different sites in the country, and a key element of the agreement was the envisaged creation of a unified army command that incorporates soldiers loyal to Machar. But efforts in this direction have been slow, and Kiir has been accused of undermining the process by making irregular military recruitments and purging army officers deemed not to be faithful to him. Machar is also at a disadvantage in the contest with Kiir because he doesn't control the internal security apparatus, much of which is informal. A major escalation of tensions happened in March when a Nuer militia, known as the White Army, seized an army garrison in Nasir, a town in Upper Nile state that's a stronghold of Machar. Later, when a U.N. helicopter went to rescue government troops stranded there, it was attacked. Dozens were killed, including a miliary general who was the top commander of government troops there. While the violence is still largely restricted to Upper Nile, 'the tinder is dangerously dry elsewhere," according to the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank. How is Kiir able to stay in power? Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is Kiir's key ally. In 2013, when the conflict first emerged, Museveni deployed Ugandan special forces who foiled attempts by Machar's forces to take power in Juba. Museveni has deployed troops again this time, in defiance of a U.N. arms embargo on South Sudan, but potentially helping to avoid an escalation of fighting between the warring parties. The Ugandan military says the deployment was in fact an effort to keep the peace process intact by firming up Kiir over Machar. Kiir also controls the National Security Service, or NSS, the dreaded domestic spy agency whose agents are authorized to make arrests without warrants. The agency reports to the president, who routinely shuffles its leaders. The NSS is 'a vital tool in the government's campaign of silencing dissent,' according to New York-based Human Rights Watch. The Sentry, a Washington-based watchdog, says of the NSS that it 'stands out as particularly ruthless, secretive, and well-funded. Fear of the NSS is pervasive in South Sudan, and for good reason.'
