
“SPLM-IO’s Chief of Staff also D/Chief of Staff of R-ARCSS Gen. Gabriel Duop Lam is grounded, DISARMED and currently detained at BILPAM HQTRS in Juba, South Sudan by the SSPDF and SPLM/A regime of Salva Kiir’s soldiers” (…) “In addition to IO chief of staff Gabriel Duop Lam, the following persons are arrested;
- Koang Gatkuoth—D/CDF,
- Malual Biliew—D/DG for GIB, and
- Yay Dak—D/DG for ISB” (Lich TV, 04.03.2025).
Bad news from South Sudan. The Naath White Army of Nasir County is haunting J1 and the government itself. President Salva Mayardit Kiir and the Transitional Government is playing with fire here. As it alleges the arrested have been working in coordination with the White Army. That’s the speculation here and the escalation of violence in the Upper Nile State. Certainly, there is more at stake here.
The whole transitional government and the R-ARCSS agreement combined with all the other signed agreements between the parties. Those are all up in the air, as the SPLM-IO and other signatories are seeing the ramifications of these arrests. They are done to certain parties and Dr. Riek Machar must feel the pinch of it.
There are rumours that several of SPLM-IO leaders have gone into hiding. There is high tension and an alert. As the risks and the possibilities are endless right now. These sort of mass arrests and sudden detention of high-ranking officials are making things tense.
Again, we are seeing the significance of the prolonged transition and the lack of institutionalism in the Republic. As one conflict and one spark are creating all of this. The Naath White Army has made all this happening in Juba. They have been able to stifle and stop the prolonged agony and most likely put things into a tidal wave.
There was already question of the willingness to implement and even continue down the path of R-ARCSS. The Tumaini initiative in Kenya didn’t make it happen either. Which shows what sort of lack of will and lack of concern of the ones in office. They rather be transitional and be interim, than having to face the citizens and the republic in an election. These are people who captured power by the guns and doesn’t want to let it go.
There are rumours of lists created of IO who will be targeted and that’s why they have gone into hiding. Therefore, expect more and possible ramifications out of it. As the spark is now in motion. This one will be a showdown and is a sort of power play of J1. They will use the myth of Nasir and of the White Army as an excuse for all of it. We can just wonder if they can substantiate or give proper reasons for it all. As if the IO is in-charge and such of the White Army. A White Army that has cleverly trained itself and armed itself too. Therefore, the J1 cannot lie about that and think it will stick.
Let me end this with wise words of the incarcerated himself from 2019:
“It is impossible for the vehicle to cross River before building the Bridge. Likewise South Sudan Unity Government will not be on time simply because the provisions of the agreement were not implemented in letter and spirit.
I am always wondering when it come to formation of Unity Government, you will find all Regime members are always more than serious, but when it come to the implementation of peace agreement twice, you will always find the Regime members in Juba are playing a wargames that, can not take the Country forward” (Gabriel Duop Lam, 24.10.2019).
This is all happening because of the actions of the White Army. That is telling and how it is able to play J1. They have done this and now we all will see the ramifications of this. The government playing war-games and the detained already knew this years ago. Now it is back at it again and we can wonder what the outcome is this time around. Peace













