
“After a thorough assessment of the credibility and composition of the Mechanisms, Political and Security environment of the Peace Implementation Mechanisms, and after wide consultation, all the participation of the members of the said Security and Political mechanisms is hereby frozen with immediate effect until all the SPLM/SPLA-IO Political Detainees are unconditionally released. The Members of the said Mechanism shall only attend RJMEC Plenary Sessions to affirm the unconditional release of their colleagues. We hold the SPLM-IG their security apparatus responsible for the safety and life of all detainees.” (Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, 17.03.2025).
It is now clear that J1 are soon very lonely in the Transitional Government, as the state has targeted the SPLM-IO. The SPLM-IG has decided this and blamed the SPLM-IO for the Naath White Army. Alas, now the acts of the authorities, the army and the President backfires. As the tension between Dr. Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir Mayardit is in the air.
The SPLM-IO is becoming an outside entity until the Transitional Government meets the needs of the IO. The IO is now addressing the state of affairs and willingly to cease operating within the various mechanisms and state organizations it’s a part of. This is endangering the R-ARCSS and the whole process of the transitional agreement. The lacking implementation and slow work on it, just shows how IO and IG have personalized the state. The Presidential Decrees and appointments haven’t built the state either. That’s why we are here in 2025.
Just read this…
“We also state clearly that the failure by the government of South Sudan to provide protection to life and property to all citizens of South Sudan has resulted in proliferation and establishment of community vigilantes including Tit-bai, Gel-weng, Agwelek, Abushok, White army, monyamiji, Arrow Boys, etc. Profiling the White army and declaring war by mobilizing state political, military and diplomatic machinery is tantamount to further a “state policy of targeting members of a group”. We call upon the African Union, United Nations, Troika, European Union and IGAD Partners Forum and the C5 Countries to protect civilians in South Sudan and reject the call by the government spokesperson to profile an ethnic group, and we also call upon you to visit the African Union Commission Report on South Sudan (The Obasanjo Report) and hold the government and individual committing atrocities and Human Rights Violations in South Sudan to account” (Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, 17.03.2025).
The SPLM-IO withdrawal and pulling out of the mechanisms are bad enough in itself. The last time there was need for mediation and a new security agreement between the IO and IG. Something similar will most likely happen again. Unless Kiir thinks UPDF can cover for him and be his guardian. We are seeing his willing to use these forces to defend the nation for him. The IG is attacking civilians and using the UPDF as their mercenaries. That isn’t making the uprising and the rise of the Naath White Army stopped. The state must address this in another way, but we only see more guns and advanced weaponry.
The IG should be concerned and worried about the state of affairs. As it now in dire straits, the IO leaving the R-ARCSS and mechanisms isn’t just stalling the peace process… but questioning the reasoning and acts of the IG. That is the reality… and J1 needs to reflect on his ways and why things are going in this direction. Therefore, the leadership in Juba needs to change and also listen to people, the warfare and the usage of force won’t settle things. It will only cause more conflict and harm, which is what we see in regard to Naath White Army. Peace.










