Oyet Nathaniel, the acting chairman and commander-in-chief of South Sudan’s main opposition group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO), has landed in the United States for a critical diplomatic mission.

His arrival comes at a precarious moment, as the 2018 Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS)—which ended a devastating civil war—faces imminent collapse amid renewed fighting and political repression.

Senior SPLM-IO officials confirmed that Nathaniel arrived in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 6, 2026, following an invitation from U.S. congressional leaders.

Dr. Isaac K. Gang, a key SPLM-IO representative in the U.S., stated that the visit will span several weeks.

During this time, Nathaniel plans to brief members of Congress, officials from the current U.S. administration, and representatives from United Nations agencies.

The primary goals of these discussions include providing updates on the stalled implementation of the 2018 peace deal, the worsening humanitarian emergency, and what opposition figures term a government-imposed blockade on political space.

A major focus will be the ongoing house arrest and treason trial of SPLM-IO leader Dr. Riek Machar, who has been confined since March 2025 and faces charges including treason, murder, and crimes against humanity—allegations his supporters dismiss as politically motivated to sideline him and undermine the power-sharing framework.

Nathaniel will also highlight calls from the African Union, the IGAD C5 (a group of regional mediators), and other international actors for an inclusive national dialogue to avert a full-scale return to civil war.

Additionally, he intends to engage with U.S.-based think tanks and the South Sudanese diaspora, who are eager for insights into the country’s deepening crisis.

Meetings with SPLM-IO members and broader South Sudanese communities in the U.S. are also on the agenda to address concerns and build support.

This high-level outreach unfolds against a backdrop of intensified violence in northern Jonglei State. Clashes between SPLM-IO forces and the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), the national army, have displaced an estimated 280,000 civilians in counties including Uror, Nyirol, and Akobo since late 2025.

In a particularly alarming development, the SSPDF recently issued a 72-hour ultimatum ordering UN peacekeepers (UNMISS) and humanitarian workers to evacuate Akobo town, citing the launch of a new phase in “Operation Enduring Peace.”

The opposition views this campaign as a blatant breach of the ceasefire provisions in the 2018 agreement, heightening fears of civilian targeting and restricted aid access.

The Revitalized Peace Agreement aimed to foster security sector unification, transitional justice, and eventual elections, but persistent delays, opposition exclusions, and military offensives have paralyzed progress.

United Nations reports and human rights bodies have warned of escalating risks, including indiscriminate attacks, sexual violence, and potential war crimes that could plunge South Sudan back into widespread conflict.

For many analysts and observers, Oyet Nathaniel’s Washington visit amounts to a urgent appeal for renewed international engagement and pressure to rescue the fragile peace process before it unravels completely.