SPLM-IO Leadership Crisis: Coup and Condemnation

Juba, April 11, 2025 – The new coup leaders of the SPLM-IO, led by Stephen Par Kuol and heavily guarded by the National Security Service (NSS), forcefully took over the SPLM-IO headquarters. This new leadership, which conspired against the legitimate chairman Riek Machar Teny, assumed control on that day.
Following a brief meeting with President Salva on April 10, 2025, Stephen Par fully assumed leadership of the SPLM-IO. However, an estimated 90% of the party members, including their armed unit SPLA-IO, are denouncing Par and his supporters. The ousted leadership condemned the takeover by Par and his group, as stated in a press release by Pal Mai Deng.

“At 9 am this morning (April 11, 2025), a small group of SPLM-IO defectors led by Hon. Stephen Par Kuol forcefully broke into the SPLM-IO National Secretariat in Juba and declared unlawful control of the premises. They were seen with members of the National Security Service during their forceful entry. We strongly condemn the unlawful takeover of the National SPLM-IO Secretariat by the disgruntled group led by Hon. Stephen Par Kuol, facilitated by the SPLM-IG’s security operatives.”
In light of these events, the SPLM-IO urges the dismissed and outlawed group to withdraw and leave the premises. The statement continues:

“We are aware of the group’s plan to eliminate members of the SPLM-IO who refuse to surrender to them, using government security operatives. Proof of this is Hon. Stephen Par’s forceful attempt to take the keys of the National SPLM-IO Secretariat by intimidating members of the secretariat who kept the keys, which was rejected one week ago. Therefore, we call on the international community to hold the group accountable for the ongoing political purge and persecution.”