Latest news with #SudanPeople'sLiberationMovement-in-Opposition
Al Bawaba
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
South Sudan's main opposition party choses new leadership
JUBA, South Sudan The South Sudan main opposition Party, Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, on Wednesday appointed an interim chair as the party's First Vice President Riek Machar remains under house arrest. Machar was placed under house arrest by President Salva Kiir Mayardit last month. The opposition's National Liberation Council nominated and approved Stephen Par Kuol, minister of peacebuilding in the transitional unity government, as the interim chair until Machar is released. 'As we move forward, the SPLM IO remains resolute in our mission to advocate for the rights and dignity of all South Sudanese and to foster a future rooted in peace. unity, and reconciliation,' the new interim chair said during the consultative meeting held in the capital Juba. He said the party delinked itself from Nathaniel Oyet Pierino, the exiled party deputy. Meanwhile, Losuba Ludoru Wongo was approved as the deputy chairman and Agok Makur Kur as the secretary-general. The party, which is part and parcel of the national unity government, cannot be led or take orders from a self-exiled leaders. Party and government decision are always taken where the seat of the party and/or government is established and not via remote,' Kuol said. He reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to the implementation of the 2018 peace agreement, both in letter and spirit. 'We believe that this agreement is the sole pathway to achieving lasting peace and reconciliation among the diverse communities of South Sudan,' he said. He also called for the immediate release of Machar. Oil-rich South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, and slid into civil war two years later. The 2018 peace deal's implantation has been slow, and recent tensions rose after deadly clashes between a rebel group known as the White Army, believed to be allied with Machar, and the South Sudan People's Defense Forces in Nasir County of northeastern state of Upper Nile.
Saudi Gazette
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
US revokes all visas for South Sudanese nationals over deportation dispute
WASHINGTON — The United States announced Saturday that it is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and halting the issuance of new visas, citing the African nation's refusal to accept deported nationals. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the State Department is taking the action in response to South Sudan's lack of cooperation in repatriating its citizens who have been ordered to leave the US. "The State Department is revoking all visas held by South Sudanese passport holders and will suspend the issuance of new ones to prevent further entry," Rubio said. "Every country must accept the return of its citizens in a timely manner when another country, including the United States, seeks to remove them." He accused the transitional government in Juba of 'taking advantage of the United States,' adding that the restrictions would remain in place until South Sudan shows 'full cooperation.' South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 following a referendum but has been mired in political instability and conflict since late 2013, when President Salva Kiir Mayardit dismissed his deputy, Riek Machar, accusing him of plotting a coup. Despite peace agreements signed in 2018 and 2022, violence continues to flare across the country. In February, a militia group known as the White Army—comprised mainly of members of Machar's Nuer ethnic group—seized control of a town in Upper Nile State. In response, several senior figures linked to Machar's Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition were detained, further escalating tensions. On March 7, President Kiir attempted to ease public fears, saying: "We will not allow our country to return to war. The government will address this crisis." However, reports emerged last week that Machar had been placed under house arrest. The growing instability has prompted multiple countries—including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, China, Norway, Poland, Spain, Malaysia, and Austria—to issue travel advisories for South Sudan. Rubio said the US would reconsider the visa restrictions once South Sudan complies with international norms on repatriation. — Agencies
Sky News
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
South Sudan opposition leader Riek Machar detained amid warnings of renewed civil war in world's youngest country
South Sudan's main opposition party has said its leader has been arrested amid warnings of renewed civil war in the world's youngest country. Riek Machar was "in confinement by the government", and his life was "at risk", opposition spokesperson Pal Mai Deng said in a video statement sent to the media on Wednesday night. "His bodyguards were disarmed, and an arrest warrant was delivered to him under unclear charges. Attempts are currently being made to relocate him," Mr Tang said. He was detained after "more than 20 heavily armed vehicles, forcefully entered his residence", according to a Facebook post by Reath Muoch Tang, the foreign relations committee chairman of the SPLM-IO party (Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition). His arrest comes after fighting in the north between an armed group allied to Mr Machar and government forces, which the UN has warned, could plunge the country back into full-scale civil war. The head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, reacting to news of the arrest, urged all parties to "exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalised Peace Agreement". SPLM-IO joined a unity government with president Salva Kiir in a power-sharing deal that ended South Sudan's five-year civil war in 2018, in which around 400,000 people were killed. Simmering tensions between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar's parties turned into renewed conflict last month when the White Army, an armed group loyal to Mr Machar, stormed an army base in Upper Nile state and attacked a UN helicopter. The government responded with airstrikes, warning any civilians in the area where the army group was based to leave or "face consequences". More than a dozen people have died since the airstrikes started. The UN warned on Monday of a renewed civil war if the leaders do not put the country's interests first. Mr Haysom said in a statement on Wednesday night that the country's leaders "stand on the brink of relapsing into widespread conflict or taking the country forward towards peace, recovery and democracy". Earlier this month, several of Mr Machar's senior allies were arrested by security forces, which his supporters condemned as a "grave violation" of the 2018 peace deal. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but the world's youngest nation has been plagued by conflict and instability ever since.
Arab News
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
South Sudan opposition decries arrests, strike as US urges talks
JUBA: South Sudan's opposition said Tuesday that several key political figures had been arrested, a day after one of its army bases was bombed as international concern mounts over the risk of a return to civil war. Clashes between forces allied to President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, have threatened a fragile power-sharing agreement from 2018. The renewed insecurity in the world's youngest nation has prompted concerns from regional partners, with Uganda — which has a long history of intervening in South Sudan — deploying troops to the capital Juba this month. Uganda's involvement was condemned by Machar's party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), which said it was a breach of a United Nations arms embargo. The SPLM-IO said its military cantonment at Wunaliet, around 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Juba, was attacked on Monday. 'This provocative action is a violation of the (2018 peace agreement),' a spokesperson said in a statement. Lul Ruai Koang, spokesman for the Kiir-aligned army, earlier warned that Machar's forces in the area were 'scaling up their movements' and had sent out a patrol toward army positions 'clearly in military formation.' The army was yet to confirm the later strikes, but local media reported that it consisted of 'heavy shelling.' South Sudan gained independence in 2011 and soon after fell into a five-year civil war between Kiir and Machar that killed some 400,000 people until a peace deal in 2018 brought them into a unity government. Analysts say Kiir has been taking steps in recent months to sideline Machar, promoting new members to the cabinet without consultation as the 73-year-old prepares his succession. On Tuesday, the SPLM-IO said four of its officials had been arrested, including the minister for animal resources and fisheries, Gai Magok. 'Their arbitrary detention is considered part of a broader crackdown' on the party, it said in a statement. At least 22 political and military officials had already been detained since February, the party has said, many held incommunicado. Machar's SPLM-IO said the presence of Ugandan forces was a 'grave violation' of the peace agreement. 'The Ugandan military entered South Sudan fully equipped with armored and air-force units in violation of the UN Security Council resolution,' the SPLM-IO said, referencing the arms embargo that is in place until at least May this year. The statement, issued over the weekend but publicized on Monday, claimed Ugandan forces were 'currently taking part in air strikes against civilians' in Upper Nile and Jonglei states. Ugandan army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, known for his unfiltered posting on X, warned Tuesday that the SPLM-IO's military wing were 'about to be annihilated.' 'Our airforce is doing a great job of destroying them,' he posted, saying they should surrender 'to me as soon as possible.' 'Otherwise, not even a rat will survive in Nuer country,' he added. The focus of recent clashes has been Nasir County in the northeastern Upper Nile State. A loose band of armed youth known as the White Army, allied to Machar, overran a military base in Nasir in early March. The army responded with aerial strikes in nearby areas, including the use of bombs containing a highly flammable liquid that acts as an accelerant upon explosion, according to a statement Monday by Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). 'These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are causing significant casualties and horrific injuries, especially burns,' Haysom said, adding that an estimated 63,000 people have been displaced. Kiir replaced the Machar-allied governor of Upper Nile State with one of his own allies last week. The UN envoy said the country was 'teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war.' On Monday, the United States State Department said Kiir and Machar 'must engage in direct dialogue to curb escalating violence in South Sudan.' 'Non-state militia attacks, govt-backed airstrikes, and promotion of sanctioned officials to high office are deeply concerning,' it said in a statement on X.
Al Arabiya
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
South Sudan opposition decries strike as US warns of rise in violence
The South Sudan opposition said one of its army bases near the capital Juba was bombarded late Monday as Washington warned it was 'deeply concerned' by escalating violence between the rival factions. Clashes between forces allied to President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, have left their 2018 power-sharing agreement increasingly fragile and threaten to plunge the country back into civil war. Late Monday, Machar's party, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-in-Opposition, said its military cantonment at Wunaliet, around 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the capital Juba, was attacked. 'This provocative action is a violation of the (2018 peace agreement),' said a spokesperson in a statement. Earlier in the day, a spokesman for the Kiir-aligned army, Lul Ruai Koang, warned that Machar's forces in the area were 'scaling up their movements' and had sent out a patrol towards army positions 'clearly in military formation.' The army was yet to confirm the later strikes, but local media reported that it consisted of 'heavy shelling.' South Sudan is the world's youngest country, having gained independence in 2011. Soon after, it fell into a five-year civil war between Kiir and Machar that killed some 400,000 people until a peace deal in 2018 brought them into a unity government. 'Teetering on the edge' The focus of recent clashes has been Nasir County in the northeastern Upper Nile State. A loose band of armed youth known as the White Army, allied to Machar, overran a military base in Nasir in early March. The army responded with aerial strikes in nearby areas, including the use of bombs containing a highly flammable liquid that acts as an accelerant upon explosion, according to a statement Monday by Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). 'These indiscriminate attacks on civilians are causing significant casualties and horrific injuries, especially burns,' Haysom said, adding that an estimated 63,000 people have been displaced. Haysom said the country was 'teetering on the edge of a relapse into civil war.' Analysts say Kiir has been taking steps in recent months to sideline Machar, promoting new members to the cabinet without consultation as the 73-year-old prepares his succession. Last week, he replaced the Machar-allied governor of Upper Nile State with one of his own allies. Machar's party says 22 of its political and military members have been detained since February, including Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol and deputy army chief General Gabriel Duop Lam. On Monday, the United States State Department said Kiir and Machar 'must engage in direct dialogue to curb escalating violence in South Sudan.' 'Non-state militia attacks, govt-backed airstrikes, and promotion of sanctioned officials to high office are deeply concerning,' it said in a statement on X. South Sudan is already one of the poorest countries in the world, and UNICEF said Monday that it is suffering its worst cholera outbreak since independence, with almost 700 deaths in six months, including many children.
