South Sudan President Dismisses Governor Amid Ethnic Clashes and Rising Tensions

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has dismissed Upper Nile State Governor James Odhok Oyay following violent clashes involving an ethnic militia. This move intensifies the ongoing conflict with First Vice President Riek Machar, raising fears of a return to civil war. The government has detained officials from Machar’s SPLM-IO party, prompting outrage and accusations of undermining peace agreements.

President Salva Kiir of South Sudan has dismissed Upper Nile State Governor James Odhok Oyay following increased clashes between government forces and an ethnic militia. Kiir alleges the militia is allied with First Vice President Riek Machar, marking an escalation in their ongoing power struggle. This conflict reignited after the White Army militia forced government troops to retreat from Nasir, a strategic town by the Ethiopian border.

The situation has worsened as Kiir’s administration has detained several officials affiliated with Machar’s political party, the SPLM-IO, including the petroleum minister and a deputy army chief. This development raises concerns about a potential return to conflict in South Sudan, which emerged from a devastating civil war approximately seven years ago.

In a decree announced via state television on Wednesday, Governor Oyay was replaced by James Koang Chuol, a lieutenant general from Nasir. This decision provoked outrage from the SPLM-IO, as the party has already begun to withdraw from the 2018 peace agreement in response to these arrests, which they deem unjust.

Machar’s spokesperson Puok Both Baluang criticized the dismissal, labeling it a unilateral act that breaches the Revitalised Peace Agreement established in 2018. Meanwhile, Information Minister Michael Makuei contended that the governor’s removal was essential for restoring peace in Upper Nile State, accusing Machar’s party of undermining the peace process.

The South Sudanese government alleges that the SPLM-IO has ties to the White Army, largely comprised of Nuer youth who supported Machar during the nation’s 2013-2018 conflict against Kiir’s primarily Dinka forces. The SPLM-IO denies these claims. The United Nations reports that fighting near Nasir has displaced approximately 50,000 individuals since late February, prompting warnings that South Sudan may be on the verge of another civil war.

The dismissal of Governor James Odhok Oyay amid escalating violence in Upper Nile state signifies a critical juncture in South Sudan’s political landscape. The removal intensifies the rivalry between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar, threatening to destabilize the region and potentially leading the country back into civil conflict. Efforts to navigate this tense situation will be crucial in preserving the fragile peace established by the 2018 agreement.

Original Source: www.straitstimes.com