Abdelbagi steps down as SSOA commander-in-chief, to form own party

JUBA – South Sudan’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, has resigned as Chairperson and Commander-in-Chief of the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA) forces, signalling a major political shift within the opposition bloc and raising questions about the future of the alliance.

Abdelbagi, who previously served as Vice President and Chairperson of the Education and Service Cluster, confirmed his decision during the weekly cabinet meeting held in Juba on Friday.

According to a statement released by the Office of the President, he informed the Cabinet that he has relinquished his military leadership role within SSOA and is calling for the immediate integration of his forces into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

“In a significant political announcement, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Hussein Abdelbagi Akol announced that he has relinquished his commander-in-chief title of SSOA forces, calling immediate integration of his forces to SSPDF,” the presidential statement read.

The statement further revealed that Abdelbagi has also expressed his intention to establish a new political party, a move that could further reshape South Sudan’s already fragmented political landscape.

Abdelbagi’s resignation comes at a time when SSOA, an umbrella grouping of several opposition parties signatory to the 2018 revitalised peace agreement, is grappling with deepening internal divisions and persistent power struggles. In recent months, internal disputes have increasingly spilled into the public domain, undermining the alliance’s cohesion and political influence.

One of the most visible confrontations involved Abdelbagi and Costello Garang, the chairperson of the South Sudan Patriotic Movement (SSPM). Their feud escalated earlier this year through a series of dismissals and counter-suspensions, with both leaders claiming legitimacy and authority within SSOA structures.

Tensions have also surrounded Josephine Lagu, the current SSOA Chairperson, who replaced Abdelbagi as Vice President and Chairperson of the Service Cluster.

She has reportedly faced criticism from within the alliance, with some members accusing her of monopolising positions in the Greater Equatoria region, an allegation her supporters have rejected.

Meanwhile, Changson Lew Chang, the former Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, has also been entangled in controversies, including disputes over leadership endorsements and claims of attempted ouster, further highlighting the factionalism that has plagued SSOA.