Machar ally rejects Kiir’s dialogue committee, citing inclusivity concerns

JUBA — A senior member of the main opposition group, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), led by suspended First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny, on Saturday rejected the dialogue committee recently formed by President Salva Kiir, citing a lack of inclusivity.

President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday night formed a high-level committee to lead dialogue on the December 2026 elections.

The committee excludes the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) faction led by Dr. Riek Machar.

Dut Majokdit, a member of the SPLM-IO National Liberation Council and a close ally of suspended First Vice President Machar, stated that the committee lacks inclusivity after excluding the Machar camp.

“From the outset this committee lacked inclusivity and therefore cannot resolve the ongoing crisis in South Sudan. The leadership body of the parties to the Agreement is itself not inclusive,” Majokdit said in a statement extended to Sudans Post on Saturday.

Majokdit stated that genuine dialogue intended to address the ongoing crisis in the country should be co-led by President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar.

“Since February 2025, the SPLM-IO, under the leadership of H.E. Dr. Riek Machar, the First Vice President of the Republic, has been consistently calling for an inclusive dialogue as the only viable path to resolving the crisis,” he said.

“This call has been echoed by the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), IGAD, the Troika, and the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JEMC). The dialogue has been hijacked by the SPLM-IG in Juba.

He said the committee’s composition does not reflect political diversity, warning that such an approach could undermine the credibility of the dialogue process.

“This exclusion is deliberate and reflects an attempt by the SPLM-IG and its allies to isolate Dr. Riek and the SPLM-IO in order to avoid genuine engagement and a return to the full implementation of the R-ARCSS.”

He stated that meaningful dialogue is not possible without the involvement of Dr. Riek Machar and the SPLM-IO leadership.

“Isolating a major partner to the Peace Agreement is a clear indication that the SPLM-IG and its allies are not for peace in South Sudan. Dialogue among allies alone cannot bring genuine peace to South Sudan. It’s merely a waste of time and resources,” he said.

He stated that the African Union, IGAD, Troika, and R-JEMC should recognize that this committee lacks inclusivity and will not address the deteriorating security situation.

“It should also be noted that Hon. Stephen Par Kuol has not been a member of the SPLM-IO since 9th April 2025, following his decision to delink himself from the Movement.”

He stated that the SPLM-IO, led by Dr. Riek Machar, distances itself from any initiative that aims to keep the country in a state of political uncertainty without peace.

“I, therefore, urge the IGAD, AU, R-JEMC, and the troika, including the wider international community, to reject such a committee entirely, which was formed without the inclusion of other parties to the R-ARCSS.”

“Any dialogue that excludes the SPLM-IO and First Vice President Machar will not yield fruits at the end. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the peace process through an inclusive dialogue,” he said.

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