13/09/2026
‼‼Press Release
By Kech Nguoth Tiem
Revolutionary salutation to:
H.E Dr. Riek Machar Teny-Dhurgon
Chairman and C-In-C of the SPLM/A IO; and to our
Rt. Hon. Oyet Nathaniel Deputy Chairman who is currently serving the movement as Acting Chairman and C-I-C as our Chairman is unlawfully detained by the regime in Juba.
This press release come late but it's due to several engagements that we encountered here on ground as the regime keep attacking our positions.
It is awkward to compete on social media over the legitimacy of a Deputy and the Interim Secretary General while we have a written constitution that guide the movement. It is of course necessary for the views point to be shared that everyone be able to know the truth but should be guided by the constitution.
Therefore, I encouraged the SPLM/A-IO family and South Sudanese to watch this video clip till end because it captured almost everything and it contains truth that you might have missed from the previous videos.
SPLM-IO as a National political party and movement was founded on April 14 to 19, 2014 after 2013 crisis which targeted the Nuer community and triggered all out war in the country.
In 2015 at Pagak HQ, SPLM-IO 4 basic documents were produced as binding legal documents to guide the movement namely, the Constitution, Manifesto, Internal Regulations and Code of conducts.
The aim of forming this movement was to fight the Juba regime not as tribe but as system or an organization for the interest of the people of South Sudan regardless of their tribes.
The core objectives and guiding principles are Democracy, Justice, Freedom, Equality, Peace, Prosperity and Inclusivity.
The structures clearly were put in place where H.E Dr Riek Machar Teny was the endorsed Chairman and C-I-C and Gen. Lado Gore Deputized him while Hon. Dhieu Mathok was the Secretary General.
In 2016 when Gen. Lado Gore and Hon. Dhieu Mathok defected with Taban Deng Gach, the party assigned Late Hon. Henry Owdwar as the Deputy Chairman and Hon.Tingo Peter became the Secretary General until when another wave of internal division arrived, and Rt. Hon. Oyet Nathaniel assumed Deputy Chairmanship and Hon. Regina Joseph as well as Secretary General.
Since formation of this organization, the Chairman came from Greater Upper Nile,Deputy from Equatoria and Secretary General from Great bargazel . No matter how thirsty you might be to clink to power, changing that dynamic is not easy.
The truth that no one can deny are;
SPLM-IO have its organs, the NCPB and NLC which are the supreme political organs of the party/movement.
In article 16 :National Convention is the the supreme political organ of the Movement which elected the Chairman and his deputy shall be composed of atleast 3,260 Delegates have the responsibility of electing, suspending and removing the Chair and Deputy Chairperson through National Convention.
The procedures including the constitutional limitations of PB powers on suspension, removal and appointments including the Secretary General are correctly putted in the constitution.
The current set up of PB in SPLM-IO to suspense, remove or appoint doesn't add up because of the following;
Among 28 members of PB,
1. 17 members including Dr. Machar are in Juba with 2 detained
2. 6 members are with Par Kuol
3. 5 members including Deputy Chairman and Secretary General managed to leave Juba.
Among all the PB members, only 4 members outside are plotting to suspend the Deputy Chairman for their own interest without quorum.
If we demand constitutionalism, accountability, and democracy from those in power in Juba, we must be prepared to uphold those same principles within our own ranks. The Constitution is not only a document to invoke when it serves our interests; it is the foundation that must guide our actions, decisions, and leadership.
Our struggle was never meant to replace one form of oppression with another. We fought for justice, equality, freedom, democracy, and respect for the rights of our people. Those principles must also govern our own movement.
In conclusion, we want the public not to believe on the propaganda of Regina group which best its logic on tribal precedence, interests and manipulation rather than to backing only the constitution.
I call upon SPLM-IO membership to believe only in their constitutional rights and respect the legal foundation of this movement.
Viva South Sudan
Viva SPLM/A-IO
Viva H.E. Dr. Machar Viva
Viva Rt. Hon. Oyet Viva.
Brig. Gen. Kech Nguoth Tiem
Governor - Upper Nile State
