Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang’s call for military officers linked to Dr. Riek Machar to return to duty overlooks the pervasive fear and insecurity resulting from recent political arrests. Officers justifiably remain in hiding due to the deterioration of trust in government security measures and the historical precedent of political suppression. A genuine resolution requires credible safety assurances and the release of detained leaders.
Maj. Gen. Lul Ruai Koang, spokesperson for the Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), has recently called for military officers associated with First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar to return to service. His statements, delivered on March 9, 2025, emphasize that these officers who have gone into hiding should feel secure. However, such reassurances appear superficial and fail to acknowledge the underlying challenges within South Sudan’s security climate.
The choice of these officers to retreat into hiding is largely a rational reaction to rising insecurity. This response follows the arrest of significant SPLM-IO military and political figures, including Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam and several government officials. The consequent heavy military presence around Dr. Machar’s residence represents a targeted suppression of SPLM-IO members, further undermining trust in the government’s ability to ensure safety.
There is a pronounced awareness of impending arrests by the National Security Service (NSS), which has publicly outlined plans to continue with political and military purges. In this treacherous atmosphere, it is only logical for officers to protect themselves from potential imprisonment. Gen. Koang’s characterization of their absence as a shocking “discovery” at the SSPDF headquarters is misleading; it reflects a predictable response to an oppressive security operation.
South Sudan’s political landscape operates under a culture that presumes guilt rather than innocence. The border between political, military, and judicial functions is commonly blurred as arrests are frequently wielded as political instruments. The experience of Gov. Kuel Aguer Kuel, who faced 17 months in jail before being acquitted, exemplifies how the concept of due process is manipulated for political ends, heightening the instinct for self-preservation among military personnel.
Expectations for these officers to return to their roles based on Gen. Koang’s assurances lack practicality. The prospect of returning to a workplace that has seen colleagues detained under dubious conditions appears unfeasible. Thus, compliance does not equate to safety for these officers when history suggests that their positions could be precarious.
To change this dynamic, Gen. Koang must recognize that no officer will return without solid guarantees of their personal safety. A reformed strategy would necessitate the release of detained leaders, reliable protections against arrest, and strong confidence-building measures originating from SPLM-IO leadership. Absent such conditions, Gen. Koang’s calls are unlikely to resonate in a political environment where the instinct for survival overshadows duty.
The fractured nature of South Sudan’s security sector, deeply divided along political lines, has severely diminished trust in state institutions. Gen. Koang’s appeals, in this context, are unlikely to elicit a positive response. Unless meaningful advances are made to separate political motives from military operations, officers in hiding will have ample justification to remain concealed from those they are expected to serve.
The current climate in South Sudan is marred by profound insecurity and distrust, particularly within the military sector. Gen. Koang’s appeals for officers to return to duty fail to recognize the severe risks that they face. Only through measurable improvements in governmental accountability and safety guarantees can the cycle of fear and evasion be broken, allowing these officers to assume their roles with confidence.
Original Source: www.radiotamazuj.org
