Power-Sharing Tensions Resurface in Yambio
A sudden overhaul in Western Equatoria’s local administration has reopened delicate debates over South Sudan’s 2018 Revitalised Agreement. SPLM-IO officials in Yambio argue the changes undermine the power-sharing balance that has kept relative calm in the once-volatile state.
The Contested Reshuffle
Governor Alfred Futuyo’s decree, issued 27 November, appointed SPLM-IG member Fozia Abbas Barnaba Bangasu as Yambio mayor and dismissed 17 director-generals across ministries. Deputy Governor Justin Joseph Marona, also interim SPLM-IO chair, says no prior consultations occurred, breaching Article 1.9 of the accord.
Legal Questions Over Procedure
Marona contends that super-scale grade-one posts require a Council of Ministers vetting panel under public service law. He describes the reshuffle as “a total violation” that could invite legal challenge. SPLM leadership in the state had not issued a formal reaction by press time.
Risks to the Road Toward 2026 Elections
Analysts note that unilateral appointments have previously sparked clashes between coalition partners in states such as Upper Nile and Warrap. Renewed friction in Western Equatoria, they warn, could distract from security sector reforms and voter registration slated ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Calls for Dialogue and Compromise
Despite the tension, SPLM-IO says it remains committed to the accord’s full implementation and calls for an urgent leadership dialogue to preserve gains. Civil society groups echo the appeal, urging parties to resolve disputes through the mechanisms outlined in Juba rather than public confrontation.