South Sudan President Dismisses Upper Nile Governor Amid Escalating Violence

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has dismissed Upper Nile Governor James Odhok Oyay amid escalating clashes between government forces and an ethnic militia. Tensions grow as arrests of SPLM-IO officials occur, prompting fears of renewed conflict. This decision has received backlash from the SPLM-IO, with implications of peace agreement violations and accusations of ties to the White Army militia.

In a recent development in South Sudan, President Salva Kiir has dismissed Upper Nile State Governor James Odhok Oyay amidst escalating clashes between government forces and an ethnic militia. Kiir accuses the militia of associating with his political rival, First Vice President Riek Machar, heightening tensions between the two leaders, especially after government troops were forced to retreat from the vital town of Nasir by the White Army militia.

This conflict has led to heightened political strife, particularly after the arrest of key officials from Machar’s SPLM-IO party, including the petroleum minister and deputy head of the army. These developments have sparked fears of a potential resurgence of conflict in South Sudan, just seven years post-civil war, which resulted in significant loss of life.

Following the decree broadcasted on state television announcing Oyay’s removal, President Kiir appointed Lieutenant General James Koang Chuol as the new governor. This action has faced backlash from SPLM-IO, which has expressed discontent by partially withdrawing from the 2018 peace agreement due to recent arrests.

According to SPLM-IO spokesperson Puok Both Baluang, the sacking of Oyay is a unilateral move that violates the Revitalised Peace Agreement. Conversely, Information Minister Michael Makuei contends that Oyay was removed to restore peace within Upper Nile State, accusing Machar’s party of disrupting the peace agreement.

The South Sudanese government has implicated SPLM-IO in maintaining connections with the White Army, a militia primarily consisting of armed youth from the Nuer ethnic group who fought alongside Machar during the previous civil war against Kiir’s Dinka troops. SPLM-IO has, however, firmly denied these allegations. The ongoing fighting around Nasir has reportedly displaced 50,000 individuals since late February, with the United Nations warning that the situation risks escalating into a civil war.

The dismissal of Upper Nile Governor James Odhok Oyay by President Salva Kiir amidst escalating tensions with the SPLM-IO illustrates the fragile political landscape in South Sudan. These developments reflect serious violations of the existing peace agreements and raise alarms regarding the potential for renewed conflict in the region.

Original Source: newscentral.africa