By Matik Kueth
The Minister of Peacebuilding and now interim Chairman of SPLM-IO Juba faction, Stephen Phar Kuol, stressed that his group will not run from the political crisis engulfing the party, but instead will remain in Juba to “keep the party alive and operational” despite the detention of its leader, Dr. Riek Machar.
In an exclusive interview with King Media on Thursday, Kuol stated that the current leadership was elected, not self-proclaimed, in accordance with the 2015 SPLM-IO Constitution.
The interim leadership was born out of necessity, he stated, following what he termed “remote control management” by Dr. Machar from an undisclosed location.
“What gives us courage is the spirit of the people here in Juba. Running away will not resolve the crisis. We must be bold and engage everyone, including civil society, other parties, and the media, to stabilize this country,” Kuol said.
Kuol criticized those he allegedly claimed, “running the party on the run,” including Machar loyalist Nathaniel Oyet and others now in exile.
He characterized their rejection of his leadership as “fearful posturing” driven by personal survival instincts rather than commitment to the SPLM-IO cause.
“The SPLM-IO is not one man. It is the structures, the political bureau, and the people,” he stated.
He confirmed Sarah Cleto’s appointment to the Health Ministry, citing it as a response to serious public health concerns.
The peace-building minister also emphasized the party’s readiness to hand power back to Machar if he is acquitted and released.
“This is interim. If Dr. Machar returns, we step aside. But until then, the movement must not die,” he stressed.
The genesis of the SPLM saga began Last month when Oyet Nathaniel, Acting Chairman of the SPLM-IO suspended Kuol from representing the party from R-JMEC.
The political rift occurs at an uphill era for the SPLM-IO, as the detention of First Vice President and party leader Riek Machar plunging the party into chaos, causing internal schisms and factional tensions.
Nathaniel, Macahar’s deputy, fled the country in March amid a clampdown on senior party figures, has since stepped into a central leadership role.
Despite Kuol’s parallel leadership claim, opposes the power vacuum left by Machar’s absence, many high-ranking officials continue to vow loyalty to the detained leader, further aggravating the movement’s division.