Juba speech fuels debate on South Sudan stability
JUBA — South Sudan’s Minister of Animal Resources & Fisheries, Onyoti Adigo Nyikec, on Tuesday accused acting SPLM-IO leader Nathaniel Oyet of undermining the country’s fragile stability. He described Oyet as an “enemy of peace” and alleged he is mobilising armed youth against the government.
Onyoti made the comments during a welcoming ceremony for Mining Minister Losuba Loduro Wongo. He told the gathering that Oyet’s recent political moves, in his view, amounted to a declaration of war.
SPLM-IO internal divisions after Machar detention
Oyet has faced criticism inside the SPLM-IO over statements and appointments that supporters say have deepened internal divisions. The dispute has been linked to anger among senior military figures and internal confrontations in SPLA-IO-controlled areas, including Unity State.
Riek Machar, the detained SPLM-IO leader, is reported to have sent a handwritten letter from detention in Juba last week. The reported message urged Oyet to focus on party affairs and avoid military matters, though Oyet has not confirmed the letter’s authenticity.
2018 peace agreement dispute and competing SPLM-IO camps
Following Machar’s arrest, the SPLM-IO has split into two main camps. Oyet leads a faction that has declared the 2018 peace agreement defunct, while a rival group led by Stephen Par Kuol has aligned itself with President Salva Kiir’s SPLM-IG.
“There is another group headed by Nathaniel Oyet, who declared war against the people of South Sudan. He is the enemy of peace, and this is not accepted,” Onyoti said, framing the split as a direct test of commitment to dialogue.
Onyoti backs Par Kuol faction and dialogue-first politics
Onyoti said he supports Par Kuol’s faction, describing it as the legitimate political camp backing Machar while prioritising talks over renewed fighting. He argued that peace is a prerequisite for national development and service delivery.
“They chose peace instead of going to war, and we have to appreciate them,” Onyoti said. He added that without peace there would be no mining, irrigation, hospitals or schools, and insisted Machar has not called for a return to conflict.
Kiir commitment to peace and courts for detainees
The minister said President Salva Kiir remains committed to preventing South Sudan from slipping back into civil war, despite political tensions linked to the detention of opposition figures. He warned that Oyet’s approach could leave him isolated and seen as acting independently as a rebel.
Onyoti argued that the fate of Machar and other detained opposition leaders should be determined through the courts rather than political bargaining. “When you are in court, there are only two options: release if there is no evidence, or sentencing if you are found guilty,” he said.
Economic strain: bank cash shortages, salary delays, gold sector concerns
Turning to the economy, Onyoti highlighted worsening cash shortages in banks and prolonged salary delays affecting civil servants. He said recovery would be unrealistic without stronger production in agriculture, mining and other sectors.
“You go to the bank to withdraw your own money, and they tell you there is no cash,” he said. He also called for an end to corruption in the gold sector, presenting governance reforms as part of broader economic stabilisation.