By Matik Kueth
The Deputy Chairperson of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO), Oyet Nathaniel, has appointed former Minister of Health Yolanda Awel and Minister of Mining Martin Abucha Gama as the SPLM-IO’s new representatives to the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (R-JMEC).
The appointment came after Stephen Par Kuol and Gatwech Lam Puoch, previous SPLM-IO members of the peace monitoring board, were suspended on April 7, 2025.
In a statement, Nathaniel blasted Kuol for meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni during a recent visit to Juba and engaging in discussions with SPLM transitional government officials, which he claimed violated party regulations.
He stated that Abucha would replace Kuol and Awel would replace Pouch at the R-JMEC since Pouch had been unable to carry out his duties due to his detention by South Sudan’s National Security Service.
“With compliments, I am writing to bring to your attention the suspension of Hon. Stephen Par Kuol, the representative of SPLM-I0 to RJMEC (See suspension letter attached). Hon. Phar shall no longer represent the SPLM-IO in any official capacity in the RJMEC. Therefore, Hon. Martin Abucha Gama is hereby appointed to replace Hon. Stephen Par Kuol with immediate effect,” Nathaniel stated.
He added, “Secondly, you may be aware your Excellency, our representative to RJMEC, Hon Gatwech Lam Puoch, is being illegally detained by the National Security Services, as such, he is unable to discharge his duty in the RJMEC at this time. I, therefore, appoint Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng to act in place of Hon. Gatwech Lam Puoch with immediate effect.”
This political ruse unfolded on Monday when Nathaniel suspended Phar Kuol, alleging that he caused discord in the party and worked hard to replace Dr. Machar at the probe with the assistance of SPLM-IG.
In response, Stephen Par ridiculed the suspension as a joke and questioned Oyet’s legitimacy, describing him as “a rebel who fled Juba.”
“We call this a joke of the year! Nathaniel [Oyet] does not have constitutional powers to do that, he is doing it because he fled, and he does not control anything now. The problem is that he is hearing that we are organizing a National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting,” he said.
“NLC is the second largest organ of the party between sessions of the convention and the extraordinary convention. We are doing this because we are going to delink ourselves from them; they are rebels, and we are with the government,” he explained.
He pointed out that Nathaniel does not have the authority to suspend any member of the SPLM-IO Political Bureau personally.
Since FVP Dr. Riek Machar was placed under house arrest on March 26, 2025, most SPLM-IO officials in key government positions have ceased operations because they fear arrest, as some of their colleagues, including Deputy Army Chief Duop Lam and Petroleum Minister Puot Kang, are still under detention at the SSPDF headquarters in Bilpham.