South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has sacked Upper Nile state governor James Odhok Oyay amidst escalating clashes with an ethnic militia. The conflict is tied to ongoing tensions with First Vice-President Riek Machar, after militia forces compelled government troops to withdraw. Oyay’s removal, seen as a violation of the peace agreement, has prompted backlash from Machar’s party, raising fears of further instability.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed the governor of Upper Nile state following escalating clashes between government forces and an ethnic militia. This militia is allegedly allied with Kiir’s political rival, First Vice-President Riek Machar. The conflict intensified after militia forces compelled government troops to retreat from Nasir, a town located near the border with Ethiopia.
As the situation deteriorates, Kiir’s government detained multiple officials from Machar’s party, the SPLM-IO, including the petroleum minister and the deputy army chief. This ongoing standoff raises concerns of a return to conflict, merely seven years after a devastating civil war that resulted in substantial loss of life.
In a decree announced on state television, Governor James Odhok Oyay, affiliated with SPLM-IO, was removed from his position and replaced by James Koang Chuol, a lieutenant general from Nasir. Oyay’s dismissal incited strong reactions from SPLM-IO, which has already expressed its discontent by partially withdrawing from the 2018 peace agreement.
According to Puok Both Baluang, spokesperson for Machar, the removal of Oyay is a unilateral decision and violates the Revitalised Peace Agreement established in 2018. In defense of the action, Information Minister Michael Makuei accused Machar’s party of undermining the peace process, asserting that Oyay was dismissed to restore order in Upper Nile state.
The government has linked the SPLM-IO to the White Army, a group largely composed of Nuer youths who previously fought alongside Machar against Kiir’s Dinka forces during the civil war. The SPLM-IO has denied these accusations. The violence surrounding Nasir has already displaced approximately 50,000 individuals since late February, prompting the United Nations to warn that South Sudan may be on the verge of descending back into civil war.
In summary, the dismissal of Upper Nile state governor James Odhok Oyay by President Salva Kiir represents a significant escalation in the political tensions between Kiir and Riek Machar. The ongoing violence and subsequent political maneuvers have rekindled fears of a return to civil conflict, with numerous people displaced and accusations exchanged regarding the stability of the existing peace agreements. This precarious situation underscores the importance of diplomatic efforts to preserve peace in South Sudan.
Original Source: www.timeslive.co.za
