By Matik Kueth
The First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar and leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), has rejected the recent dismissal of National Minister of Health, Yolanda Awel and Western Equatoria State Governor, Alfred Futuyo, demanding their swift reinstatement.
Machar issued a statement in Juba on Tuesday after a meeting of the SPLM/A in Opposition’s Political Bureau.
On February 10, 2025, President Kiir enacted significant changes within his government, including the removal of two vice presidents appointed under the peace agreement, along with several other high-ranking officials.
Among those terminated were Minister Awel, Governor Futuyo, and Tut Gatluak Manime, South Sudan’s presidential envoy for the Middle East.
According to the statement, Machar condemned President Kiir’s “unilateral decision,” emphasizing that such actions contravene the peace agreement.
“After extensive deliberations, the Political Bureau rejects the unilateral decision made by the President to remove Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng, the Minister of Health and H.E. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, the Governor of Western Equatoria State, from their offices as the decrees violate the replacement and removal procedures under Article 1.13 of the R-ARCSS,” he stated.
He urged President Kiir to reconsider his decision, noting that, “Calls on the President to reinstate Hon. Yolanda Awel Deng, the Minister of Health and H.E. Gen. Alfred Futuyo Karaba, the Governor of Western Equatoria State to their respective offices.”
Machar condemned the assassination attempt on Futuyo’s life and his family’s safety at their official residence, alongside other SPLM-10 members in Yambio, Tombra, and Najjero Counties, attributing these actions to elements of the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces (SSPDF).
“The Political Bureau calls for the unconditional release of the Security Advisor of the Government of Western Bahr El Ghazal State and the Commissioner of Jur River County,” he stressed.
The First Vice President further expressed serious concern regarding ongoing atrocities against civilians in Koburi Bou in Najjero and Ngap in Jur River Counties attributed to the SSPDF, insisting that such actions violate established security arrangements.
He appealed to the Ceasefire and Transitional Security Arrangements Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (CTSAMVM) to investigate the violations and ensure accountability for the perpetrators.