Juba,
The internal clashes within the Sudan People's Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO) has forced the Council of Ministers of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) to hold an extra-ordinary meeting to discuss the situation.
SPLA-IO is the military force of the Sudan People's Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLM-IO).
In a statement seen by the The EastAfrican, the second most powerful organ of the regional bloc invited the member states’ Foreign Affairs ministers for an urgent meeting on Monday.
“The agenda for its emergency meeting will be to discuss the current political situation in South Sudan that requires the urgent attention of the council,” read the statement.
The pressing call came after reported clashes between forces loyal to former SPLA-IO Chief of General Staff Lt-Gen Gatwech Dual fought in Magenis over the weekend.
AdvertisementAccording to the spokesman of First Vice President Riek Machar, at least 27 soldiers from Gatwech’s faction were killed during the weekend military clashes.
Col Lam Gabriel Paul said among those killed on the enemy side included two prominent generals.
Cease military action
Reacting to the incident, Edmund Yakani, the executive director of Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation – a civic education, human rights and peacebuilding advocacy institution – called on the conflicting parties to cease military action and resolve their grievances in a non-violent manner.
“The citizens of South Sudan are tired of the armed violence. The leadership of the conflicting SPLM-IO factions should take responsibility for dialogue and find a solution for sorting out their misunderstanding immediately.
“This negative development that undermines the process for transitioning the situation across the South Sudan from violence to peace is a clear demonstration of some political and military leaders’ lack of will for implementing the signed revitalised peace accord,” said Yakani.
Yakani, who is a civil society signatory to the peace deal, urged the conflicting factions to respect the cessation of hostilities agreement.
“Protection of civilians and human rights should not be compromised with by any one of the conflicting parties in Magenis,” he said.
On Wednesday last week, a group of senior generals in the SPLM-IO announced they had dismissed Dr Machar as commander of the group[1], accusing him of reneging on the movement’s vision.
The SPLM-IO generals ostensibly replaced Machar with his previous army chief Simon Gatwech Dual with immediate effect. Dr Machar’s political bureau condemned the move and described the generals behind the plan as peace spoilers[2].
References
- ^ senior generals in the SPLM-IO announced they had dismissed Dr Machar as commander of the group (www.theeastafrican.co.ke)
- ^ peace spoilers (www.theeastafrican.co.ke)
Newer articles:
- Let’s robustly deal with S. Sudan crisis - 11/08/2021 02:45
- Salva Kiir downplays calls to relinquish power - 11/08/2021 02:32
- South Sudan jet in for Afrobasket tournament - 11/08/2021 00:08
- Can Sudan’s creaking colonial railway help the country get back on track? - 09/08/2021 23:00
- Roads to food security in South Sudan - 09/08/2021 19:05
Older news items
- Opinion | South Sudan may need a homegrown peace process soon - 09/08/2021 04:59
- Hunger crisis in South Sudan means many can’t afford to care about coronavirus - 07/08/2021 22:29
- Deadly Fighting Erupts Between Rival Factions of South Sudan VP Machar's Party - 07/08/2021 08:02
- Machar ‘ouster’ signals fissures in South Sudan nascent govt of national unity - 07/08/2021 03:19
- EDITORIAL: Machar’s failed ouster should be a valuable lesson - 07/08/2021 03:04
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan vows probe after two Ethiopian peacekeepers killed in Jonglei ambush; Ethiopia, UN and Egypt condemn attack - 26/08/2026 13:06
- Dozens killed in rebel attacks on Sudan’s Kordofan, medical group says - 26/08/2026 13:03
- The truth about the South Sudanese vice president being prevented from travelling to Kenya - 26/08/2026 13:01
- WHO Regional Office Country Focus Coordinator visits South Sudan to strengthen health sector support - 26/08/2026 12:58
- South Sudanese Catholic Bishop Presents Women’s Leadership as Alternative Ahead of First-Ever General Election - 26/08/2026 12:56
Random articles (all categories):
- SOUTH SUDAN: Briefing life without oil - 14/02/2012 13:59
- U.S. Condemns Violence in South Sudan's Unity State - 24/11/2014 01:25
- Kenya Ports Authority faulted over directive on South Sudan-bound cargo - 11/10/2013 15:34
- ماذا قدمت الوحدات العسكرية المشتركة/المدمجة لشعب جنوب السودان؟ ملكال نموذجا - 03/04/2009 20:14
- Open Letter to Hon. Athian Ding, Minister of Finance and Planning (16/09/2025) - 17/09/2025 19:07
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 148908 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 28003 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 25085 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24393 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22340 times
