The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO), the faction allied to suspended First Vice President Riek Machar, has strongly condemned the dismissal of 47 of its lawmakers from the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday after an emergency meeting of its Political Bureau, the group described the removals as a “blatant violation” of the 2018 Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and the Transitional Constitution.
The lawmakers were removed by presidential decree issued by President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday, May 15, and replaced with new appointees.
SPLM-IO said the action was retaliation for a walkout by its members on May 11, when they protested the tabling of a bill seeking to amend the 2018 peace agreement.
“The Political Bureau condemns the unilateral removal of the forty-seven members. This act by the ITGoNU/SPLM-IG is a blatant violation of the removal and replacement procedures of the R-ARCSS,” the statement read.
The group argued that the move undermines the separation of powers and punishes legislators for exercising their right to oppose or support bills.
It further accused the transitional authorities of turning parliament into a “weapon” against the peace agreement instead of using it to advance its implementation.
Growing Tensions
The dismissals come amid rising tensions within the unity government over proposed amendments to the R-ARCSS, which ended a five-year civil war.
SPLM-IO lawmakers have accused the government of introducing the amendment bill in a non-inclusive manner.
In recent months, several lawmakers perceived to be loyal to Machar have been replaced by members aligned with a rival SPLM-IO faction led by Peacebuilding Minister Stephen Par Kuol, whom President Kiir recognises as a key partner.
International partners, including the Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (RJMEC), have previously warned that any changes to the peace agreement must involve inclusive consultations with all signatories.
No immediate response was received from the presidency or the SPLM-IG regarding the SPLM-IO statement.
The developments are likely to further strain the already fragile transitional government as the country continues its slow implementation of the 2018 peace deal.
