Senior officers of the opposition SPLA-IO in Western Bahr el Ghazal State have dismissed a series of recent promotions and rejected plans to integrate some of their forces into the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF).

The promotions and integration ceremony took place at the Fifth Infantry Division headquarters in Grinti, Wau, where more than 100 SPLA-IO officers of various ranks were elevated and decorated.

Authorities overseeing the process said the promotions had been approved by President Salva Kiir Mayardit, who also serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

However, Maj. Gen. Hakim Peter Akuei, commander of SPLA-IO Sector Seven in Western Bahr el Ghazal, said on Monday that the promotions had not been agreed with the SPLA-IO leadership.

“We are receiving reports that new promotions have been carried out in Wau and that the generals will be absorbed into the SSPDF ranks,” Gen. Akuei said.

He stressed that the officers named were not part of any process recognised by the SPLA-IO high command.

Gen. Akuei further accused Western Bahr el Ghazal Governor Sherif Daniel Sherif of attempting to integrate SPLA-IO forces without consulting the opposition leadership under Riek Machar.

“We have had no contact with the governor since he was appointed,” he added.

Governor Sherif is a senior member of the SPLA-IO faction associated with National Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol.

Brig. Gen. Gabriel Marjan Louis also rejected reports that a new list of SPLA-IO generals had been approved in Juba as part of the 2018 peace agreement’s implementation.

“We reject claims being made in Juba that the peace agreement has been completed and that a new list of generals has been promoted,” he said.

He emphasised that the named officers were not recognised under any process endorsed by the SPLA-IO.

“For those who have been named and promoted, we wish them well,” Gen. Louis continued.

“But we will not recognise these changes without instructions from our leader, Dr Riek Machar. Until then, we are not part of the government.”

The disagreement highlights ongoing difficulties in implementing the 2018 Revitalised Peace Agreement, particularly the unification of government and opposition forces.

Progress has been further complicated by strained relations between the government and Machar, who has been under house arrest in Juba since March 2025.

Internal divisions within the SPLA-IO over leadership have also deepened while Machar remains confined.The Western Bahr el Ghazal state government could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.