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SPLM-IO Political Bureau Committed to Peace Deal, Urges Release of Detained Members
Commitment to Peace Agreement Reaffirmed
JUBA, 28 March 2025 – Senior members of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau have reaffirmed their commitment to the 2018 peace agreement while calling for the immediate release of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar and dozens of other detained party members.
In a Friday statement, prominent officials including Peace-building Minister Stephen Phar Kuol, Minister of Federal Affairs Lasuba Wango, and Council of States Speaker Deng Deng urged all parties to return to dialogue to ease escalating tensions.
Call for Calm and Dialogue
The SPLM-IO leadership appealed to the public to remain calm, assuring citizens that the political crisis would be resolved through peaceful means. Other notable members present included:
- Dr. Riang Yer, Chairperson of the National Constitution Review Commission
- Garang Tong Akeen, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs
- Several SPLM-IO members of parliament
Speaking as SPLM-IO Chairperson of the National Committee for Peace and Reconciliation, Stephen Par Kuol emphasized: We reiterate our unwavering commitment to the peace process through the R-ARCSS as the only way we bring peace to our country.
Key Demands from SPLM-IO
The Political Bureau made several critical demands:
- Immediate release of detained chairman and party members
- Resumption of dialogue between all parties
- Observance of the permanent ceasefire agreement
- Full implementation of the peace agreement
Par Kuol specifically called on international guarantors including IGAD, the European Union, Troika, and the United Nations to facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties.
Recent Arrests and Government Response
Following violence in Nasir County, numerous SPLM-IO officials have been detained, including:
- Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol
- Deputy CDF Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam
- National lawmaker Hon. Gatwech Lam Puoch
- 19 other party members
The government stated these individuals were in conflict with the law
, while the SPLM-IO maintains they were arbitrarily detained
.
In a related development, Lakes State Deputy Governor Dr. Isaiah Akol Mathiang was arrested on March 24 for allegedly publishing inciting comments condemning aerial bombings in Nasir.
Path Forward
The SPLM-IO leadership emphasized that dialogue remains the only viable path to lasting peace in South Sudan. They urged all security mechanism participants to continue their work under the National Transitional Committee framework.
As tensions continue, international observers are closely monitoring whether these calls for dialogue will lead to concrete de-escalation measures and the release of detained officials.
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