President Salva Kiir has dismissed Upper Nile governor James Odhok Oyay amid escalating violence involving government troops and an ethnic militia allied with rival Riek Machar. The government’s actions, including detaining SPLM-IO officials, have exacerbated tensions, threatening the peace agreement. The UN reports significant displacement due to the ongoing conflict, raising concerns of a potential relapse into civil war.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Upper Nile state’s governor, James Odhok Oyay, following escalated clashes between government forces and an ethnic militia that Kiir accuses of collaborating with First Vice President Riek Machar. This action is seen as part of a broader confrontation between Kiir and Machar that intensified after militia members prompted a government troop withdrawal from the strategic town of Nasir, near the Ethiopian border.
In the wake of these developments, the government has detained several officials from Machar’s SPLM-IO party, including the petroleum minister and the deputy head of the army. These actions have raised concerns about the stability of South Sudan, a nation that emerged from a civil war just seven years ago, which left hundreds of thousands dead.
In a televised decree, President Kiir appointed Lieutenant General James Koang Chuol as the new governor, replacing Oyay, who is affiliated with the SPLM-IO. The dismissal has sparked outrage within the party, which has already partially withdrawn from the 2018 peace agreement in protest. Machar’s spokesperson, Puok Both Baluang, indicated that this action violates the Revitalised Peace Agreement.
Information Minister Michael Makuei contended that Machar’s party threatens the peace deal and maintained that Oyay was removed to restore stability to Upper Nile state. The government has alleged SPLM-IO’s connections with the White Army, composed largely of Nuer youths who previously fought alongside Machar’s forces. The party refutes these accusations.
UN reports indicate that clashes near Nasir have displaced approximately 50,000 individuals since late February, heightening fears of South Sudan relapsing into civil conflict. The situation remains precarious, with the international community closely monitoring the developments.
The recent dismissal of Upper Nile governor James Odhok Oyay by President Salva Kiir amid growing tensions with Vice President Riek Machar underscores the fragile political landscape of South Sudan. The rising violence and displacement threaten to undo years of peace efforts, prompting urgent calls for adherence to the existing peace agreements. Without resolute action to stabilize the region, South Sudan risks returning to the devastating conflict it experienced in recent years.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
