Deepening Rift inside SPLA-IO Leadership
Western Bahr el Ghazal felt after Oyet issued an order promoting Maj. Gen. Joseph Benson Ufo to first lieutenant general and reinstating him as commander of Division 6A. Within hours, the veteran officer publicly discarded the decree, labelling it “politically motivated” and disruptive to regional stability.
Commander Cites Procedural Irregularities
Speaking from Wau, Ufo argued that genuine promotions must originate at SPLA-IO headquarters through standard channels. “This one came from the market,” he scoffed, insisting professional soldiers should not be drawn into factional schemes that, in his view, jeopardise the 2018 peace spirit.
Appeal to Fellow Commanders
The major general appealed to SPLA-IO units nationwide to disregard the directive, saying he remained neither a first lieutenant general nor Sector A commander. According to him, accepting the notice would “create confusion” and distract troops from community reconciliation efforts that have held since the cease-fire.
Political Undercurrents after Machar’s Detention
Oyet assumed interim command of the movement following First Vice-President Riek Machar’s detention in March. Since then, competing factions have emerged, including a breakaway wing led by Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol that pledges cooperation with President Salva Kiir. Ufo’s stance may signal rapprochement with Kuol’s bloc.
New Governor Adds Complexity
Last week President Kiir appointed Maj. Gen. Sherif Daniel Sherif, from Kuol’s SPLA-IO faction, as governor of Western Bahr el Ghazal. The choice further shifts local power dynamics, heightening curiosity about whether Ufo’s rejection aligns the Wau garrison with the governor’s freshly elevated network.
Fragile 2018 Peace Deal at Stake
The 2018 revitalised agreement ended South Sudan’s brutal five-year civil war but still awaits unified forces, a permanent constitution and credible elections. Analysts fear that leadership feuds inside the largest opposition army could delay these benchmarks and revive insecurity in provinces once battered by conflict.
Next Moves under Close Watch
Col. Lam Paul Gabriel, spokesman for Machar’s loyalists, remained unreachable, underscoring communication gaps. Observers now monitor whether headquarters will reaffirm or revise the disputed order and how commanders in the field respond. In a country craving calm, procedural clarity may prove as vital as battlefield discipline.