‘Unilateral’ R-ARCSS amendments ‘reckless betrayal’ of peace, says SPLM-IO

JUBA – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement under the leadership of suspended and detained First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar, has strongly condemned what they describe as a “unilateral” and “reckless” move by the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Government (SPLM-IG) to amend the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS), warning that the decision risks dismantling the country’s fragile peace process.

In a statement issued Thursday by Puok Both Baluang, Acting Press Secretary in the Office of the suspended First Vice President, accused the ruling party of deliberately violating both the letter and spirit of the peace agreement by pushing through amendments without the consent of key signatories.

“The unilateral decision by the SPLM-IG to amend the R-ARCSS is not merely a procedural violation—it is a calculated and dangerous attempt to dismantle the peace process altogether,” the statement said. It argued that the move reflects a choice of “escalation over reconciliation” at a time when South Sudan remains politically fragile and deeply divided.

According to the SPLM-IO, the peace agreement clearly outlines the procedures required for any amendments. The statement cited Articles 7.13, 7.14 and 8.4 of the R-ARCSS, which require changes to be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Council of Ministers of the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), two-thirds of voting members of the Revitalized Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), and subsequent ratification by the Transitional National Legislature under the Transitional Constitution.

“These provisions were designed to ensure inclusivity, consensus and mutual trust,” the statement noted, adding that bypassing the SPLM/A-IO in the process undermines the very foundations on which the peace deal was built.

Machar’s allies rejected the amendments as “null and void,” describing them as a power grab that contradicts the agreement’s core purpose of addressing the root causes of conflict and fostering national unity. They further accused the SPLM-IG of systematically eroding the peace agreement through what they called arbitrary actions against opposition representatives.

The statement pointed to the detention of Dr. Machar, whom it described as the R-ARCSS’s principal signatory and the SPLM/A-IO’s representative in the Presidency, as well as the removal or imprisonment of seven out of nine SPLM/A-IO ministers from the Council of Ministers and the dismissal of key legislators.

“These acts are not just violations of the R-ARCSS; they are direct attacks on the legitimacy of the peace process itself,” it said.

The SPLM/A-IO warned that ignoring consensus and silencing dissent could plunge the country back into instability, undoing years of sacrifice since the outbreak of civil war. It urged regional guarantors and international partners to intervene and hold the SPLM-IG accountable, stressing that “peace cannot be imposed—it must be negotiated, honoured and protected by all parties.”

The condemnation comes after an expanded meeting of the Presidency on Wednesday, chaired by President Salva Kiir, unanimously approved what were described as “important clauses” of the R-ARCSS for urgent amendment to pave the way for national elections. The move was reportedly endorsed by other parties to the agreement.

However, the SPLM-IO insists that without inclusive dialogue and adherence to agreed procedures, such amendments lack legitimacy. “South Sudan’s future hangs by a thread,” the statement warned, calling for renewed commitment to genuine reconciliation and a peace process that reflects the voices of all South Sudanese.