President Salva Kiir has removed Upper Nile State Governor James Odhok Oyay following intensified clashes with a militia allied to rival Riek Machar. This decision has sparked controversy and accusations of violating the peace agreement. The conflict has displaced 50,000 individuals and raised fears of a return to civil war in South Sudan.
South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Upper Nile State Governor James Odhok Oyay amid escalating clashes between government forces and an ethnic militia. Kiir accused the militia of collaborating with his political rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, further intensifying tensions between the two leaders. The conflict intensified after the White Army militia forced government troops to withdraw from the strategic town of Nasir, located near the Ethiopian border.
Additionally, Kiir’s government has arrested several officials from Machar’s SPLM-IO party, which includes the petroleum minister and the deputy head of the army. This growing standoff has raised concerns regarding South Sudan’s stability, potentially leading the nation back into conflict, just seven years after emerging from a brutal civil war.
In a decree aired on state television, Kiir appointed Lieutenant General James Koang Chuol as Oyay’s replacement. This decision has prompted backlash from the SPLM-IO, which has already partially halted its participation in the 2018 peace agreement in response to the arrests. SPLM-IO spokesperson Puok Both Baluang characterized Oyay’s removal as a unilateral act that violates the Revitalised Peace Agreement.
Information Minister Michael Makuei countered by accusing Machar’s party of undermining peace efforts, asserting that Oyay was removed “in order to bring peace” to the state. The government claims that SPLM-IO has connections to the White Army militia, which predominantly consists of armed Nuer youth who previously fought against Kiir’s forces in the 2013-2018 civil war. SPLM-IO has refuted these allegations.
According to the United Nations, the fighting around Nasir has displaced approximately 50,000 individuals since late February, leading to warnings that South Sudan is on the verge of a relapse into civil war.
The dismissal of Upper Nile State Governor James Odhok Oyay by President Salva Kiir amidst escalating conflicts underscores the precarious political situation in South Sudan. This action, perceived as a breach of the 2018 peace agreement, reflects the rising tensions between government forces and the SPLM-IO party. With significant displacement and ongoing violence, the possibility of a return to civil war looms over the country.
Original Source: newscentral.africa
