Kiir urged to restore SPLM-IO portfolios, halt unilateral actions undermining peace deal

JUBA — South Sudan President Salva Kiir has been urged to restore positions taken from the SPLM-IO and reverse unilateral replacements of opposition representatives in government.

The call came from Maj. Gen. George Aggrey Owinow (rtd), the Interim Chairperson of the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), in a briefing to the African Union Peace and Security Council on Friday.

His remarks follow heightened political tensions triggered by the continued detention of SPLM-IO leader and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, alongside recent reshuffles affecting opposition-held ministerial and legislative positions, notably, the Ministry of Interior, which was held by Angelina Teny, the wife to Machar.

In the virtual address, Owinow also disclosed that the Council of Ministers has approved a proposal by a technical committee to amend the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), as incorporated into the Transitional Constitution. The proposal has since been submitted to RJMEC for review in accordance with Article 8.4 of the peace agreement.

To assess the proposal, Owinow said he has initiated a series of consultations with RJMEC members, stakeholders, partners, and guarantors of the agreement to determine whether consensus can be reached on its endorsement.

However, he warned that several RJMEC members have raised serious concerns over the ongoing political developments in Juba — particularly the suspension and detention of Dr. Machar and his exclusion from key decision-making processes affecting the future of the agreement. He also pointed to the continued unilateral replacement of SPLM-IO representatives from their constitutionally guaranteed ministerial and legislative positions.

These actions, he cautioned, risk undermining political trust and confidence in the revitalised peace agreement at a time when cooperation among signatories is critical to preventing a return to widespread conflict.

Owinow urged South Sudan’s leadership to desist from actions that further erode confidence in the peace process and instead resolve political disagreements through dialogue. He emphasized that disputes must be handled using the mechanisms provided within the R-ARCSS.

He further called on the Revitalised Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU) to reconstitute itself in line with the provisions of the peace agreement, including restoring SPLM-IO portfolios. He stressed the need for urgent implementation of the agreement “in letter and spirit” and for strict adherence to its supremacy over unilateral political decisions.

The remarks place fresh regional pressure on President Kiir’s administration, as concerns grow that deviations from the agreed power-sharing arrangement could jeopardize the already fragile transition.