The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition is facing a deepening internal leadership dispute after acting chairman Oyet Nathaniel Pierino suspended interim Secretary-General Regina Joseph Kapa and seven other senior figures from their positions.
The order, dated 31 August 2026, cites provisions of the movement’s constitution, code of conduct and earlier conference resolutions as the basis for the suspensions. The document says the measures take effect from the date of signature.
Sudans Post reported that Oyet accused members of the movement of attempting to reduce the powers of his office and create parallel structures inside the SPLM-IO. Agenzia Nova separately reported that the eight officials were suspended with immediate effect.
Eight senior officials named
The suspension order lists the following officials:
- Regina Joseph Kapa — interim Secretary-General.
- Gabriel Gabriel Deng — Chairperson, National Committee for Peace and Reconciliation.
- Pal Mai Deng — Chairperson, National Committee for Information.
- Matata Frank Elikana — Chairperson, National Committee for Governance Affairs.
- Paul Baba Ezbon — Chairperson, National Committee for Transport Systems.
- Reath Muoch Tang — Deputy Chairperson, National Committee for Foreign Affairs.
- James Oryem — SPLM/SPLA-IO representative to Kenya.
- Jordan Manpiny — SPLM/SPLA-IO representative to Ethiopia.
The second page of the order shows Jordan Manpiny as the eighth suspended official and carries Oyet’s signature alongside the movement’s stamp.
Dispute centres on who controls the movement
According to Sudans Post, Oyet’s action followed a separate 29 August statement signed by Kapa. Oyet argued that the arrangement endorsed in that statement would weaken the acting chairman’s authority and transfer executive and administrative powers toward the secretary-general and part of the Political Bureau.
He described the effort as unconstitutional and said it risked creating paralysis inside the movement and separating the political and military wings.
Those accusations are Oyet’s position. South Sudan Press has not yet independently obtained Kapa’s response or a collective statement from the other suspended officials.
Why this matters
Command: The dispute goes directly to who has authority to make appointments and organisational decisions.
Political direction: Competing centres of authority could affect how the SPLM-IO approaches negotiations, elections and relations with the government.
Movement cohesion: Suspensions at this level can harden existing factions and make future reunification more difficult.
Machar’s detention remains central to the crisis
The current dispute has developed while long-time SPLM-IO chairman Riek Machar remains detained and on trial in Juba.
Since Machar’s detention, authority inside the movement has become increasingly contested. Oyet has been acting as chairman and commander-in-chief, while other senior figures have continued to exercise political and organisational roles from different locations.
Recent reporting indicates that disagreements have extended beyond titles to appointments, military operations, internal administration and the movement’s broader political strategy.
The dispute is therefore not simply about personnel. It concerns the basic question of who speaks for the SPLM-IO in Machar’s absence.
Angelina Teny’s position will be watched closely
Another key figure in the movement is Angelina Teny, a senior SPLM-IO politician and long-time member of its leadership. Her position, and the position of other senior figures not named in the suspension order, will be closely watched as the dispute develops.
South Sudan Press has not seen evidence in the documents reviewed that Teny herself was suspended under the 31 August order.
Any public alignment by senior figures could significantly reshape the internal balance of the movement.
Election implications
The timing is politically sensitive because South Sudan is preparing for elections scheduled for December 2026.
An opposition movement divided over its leadership, internal rules and representative authority may struggle to present a coherent electoral strategy. It could also complicate questions over candidate selection, party registration, alliances and who is authorised to negotiate or issue binding decisions on behalf of the SPLM-IO.
That makes the leadership dispute relevant beyond the movement itself. A fragmented opposition could affect the wider credibility and competitiveness of the electoral environment.
What remains unclear
- Whether Regina Joseph Kapa and the seven other officials accept the suspensions.
- Whether the affected officials will issue a counter-order or challenge Oyet’s authority.
- Whether the dispute produces another formally organised faction.
- Which senior political and military commanders recognise Oyet’s authority.
- How Riek Machar views the competing claims from detention.
- What impact the split could have on SPLM-IO participation in the 2026 election process.
What South Sudan Press is seeking
South Sudan Press is seeking comment from Oyet Nathaniel Pierino, Regina Joseph Kapa and other affected officials. We are also seeking clarification on the legal procedure for suspending senior office-holders under the SPLM-IO constitution and whether any appeal or internal review mechanism has been activated.
Two-page SPLM/SPLA-IO suspension order dated 31 August 2026, supplied to South Sudan Press.
Sudans Post — Oyet suspends SPLM-IO Secretary-General, seven senior officials