SPLM/A-IO Resignation Rumours Denied
JUBA — Gen. Nathaniel Oyet, the Acting Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army-In Opposition (SPLM/A-IO), has rejected claims that he resigned from the movement.
In a statement dated January 11, 2026, Oyet said he remains “steadfast” in his role, and has not stepped down from any responsibilities, according to his office.
Leaked Letter Sparks Questions in South Sudan
Oyet’s statement followed the circulation of a letter dated January 11, 2026, presented as a resignation note addressed to SPLM/A-IO leader and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny.
The document says, “It is with profound sorrow… that I write to formally tender my resignation,” citing political uncertainty and concerns about the movement’s direction. Oyet said the letter is not authentic.
Machar Handwritten Note Cannot Be Verified
Oyet also addressed another document shared widely online: a brief handwritten note dated January 7, and attributed to Dr. Riek Machar. Oyet said he could not confirm whether the note is genuine.
The note reportedly instructs Oyet to stop direct communication with SPLM/A-IO forces, appointing Lt. Gen. Peter Thok Chol Luak as the focal point for military communication, and asking Oyet to focus on political engagement in Juba.
SPLM-IO Constitution Cited in Leadership Dispute
Without directly accusing Dr. Riek Machar or confirming internal tensions, Oyet highlighted that the office of Acting Chairman is constitutionally established under Articles 28 and 29.1.3 of the SPLM-IO Constitution (2015).
He also reiterated the movement’s long-standing view that its political direction and military wing are interconnected. “In a revolutionary struggle, there is no politics without the military and no military without politics,” Oyet said.
Opposition Crackdown Context and Next Steps
Framing the dispute as part of a broader struggle, Oyet called for unity and resolve, pointing to sacrifices endured by South Sudanese, and said he plans to address the media soon.
Oyet left Juba in April 2025 following a crackdown on opposition figures aligned with the SPLM-IO. The text says his whereabouts are unknown, and that Oyet, also First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, was stripped of his title.